Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 222,390	$ 399,313
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $16,095 and $29,721)	956,852	824,339
Inventories	908,338	674,680
Other	238,673	276,874
Total current assets	2,326,253	2,175,206
Property, plant and equipment:
Land	93,496	94,426
Buildings and improvements	507,797	540,285
Equipment	1,666,682	1,649,723
Construction in process	42,499	56,124
Property, plant and equipment, Gross	2,310,474	2,340,558
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,198,459)	(1,108,290)
Property, plant and equipment, Net	1,112,015	1,232,268
Goodwill	77,638	71,580
Other assets	167,225	227,099
Total assets	3,683,131	3,706,153
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable-trade	585,289	504,388
Accounts payable-documentary letters of credit	170,683	226,633
Accrued expenses and other payables	377,774	324,897
Notes payable	6,200	6,453
Commercial paper	0	10,000
Current maturities of long-term debt	58,908	30,588
Total current liabilities	1,198,854	1,102,959
Deferred income taxes	49,572	43,668
Other long-term liabilities	106,560	108,870
Long-term debt	1,167,497	1,197,282
Total liabilities	2,522,483	2,452,779
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Preferred stock
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; authorized 200,000,000 shares; issued 129,060,664 shares; outstanding 115,533,763 and 114,325,349 shares	1,290	1,290
Additional paid-in capital	371,616	373,308
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	59,473	(12,526)
Retained earnings	993,578	1,178,372
Less treasury stock 13,526,901 and 14,735,315 shares at cost	(265,532)	(289,708)
Stockholders' equity attributable to CMC	1,160,425	1,250,736
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interests	223	2,638
Total equity	1,160,648	1,253,374
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 3,683,131	$ 3,706,153