Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015	May 31, 2016	May 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues		$ 351,604	$ 467,309	$ 961,880	$ 1,458,382
Operating expense:
Cost of goods sold		294,738	424,312	839,262	1,338,976
Selling, general and administrative		41,696	39,798	113,713	126,696
(Income) loss from joint ventures		(258)	(40)	61	(1,148)
Goodwill impairment charge		0	0	8,845	141,021
Other asset impairment charges		0	1,281	18,458	45,119
Restructuring charges and other exit-related costs		542	5,978	7,758	11,964
Operating income (loss)		14,886	(4,020)	(26,217)	(204,246)
Interest expense		(2,905)	(2,375)	(6,779)	(7,044)
Other income (expense), net		(81)	84	763	3,011
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes		11,900	(6,311)	(32,233)	(208,279)
Income tax benefit (expense)		(95)	(1,396)	(810)	8,171
Income (loss) from continuing operations		11,805	(7,707)	(33,043)	(200,108)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(116)	(1,234)	(1,206)	(6,314)
Net income (loss)		11,689	(8,941)	(34,249)	(206,422)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(689)	(687)	(1,294)	(1,318)
Net income (loss) attributable to SSI		$ 11,000	$ (9,628)	$ (35,543)	$ (207,740)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI Basic:
Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI		$ 0.41	$ (0.31)	$ (1.26)	$ (7.46)
Net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI		0.00	(0.05)	(0.04)	(0.23)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI(1)	[1]	0.40	(0.36)	(1.31)	(7.69)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI Diluted:
Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations attributable to SSI		0.41	(0.31)	(1.26)	(7.46)
Net loss per share from discontinued operations attributable to SSI		0.00	(0.05)	(0.04)	(0.23)
Net income (loss) per share attributable to SSI(1)	[1]	$ 0.40	$ (0.36)	$ (1.31)	$ (7.69)
Weighted average number of common shares:
Basic		27,261	27,043	27,195	27,003
Diluted		27,327	27,043	27,195	27,003
Dividends declared per common share		$ 0.1875	$ 0.1875	$ 0.5625	$ 0.5625

[1] (1)May not foot due to rounding.