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BUSINESS SEGMENTS (External Net Sales from Continuing Operations by Major Product) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Aug. 31, 2016 | [1] | May 31, 2016 | [1] | Feb. 29, 2016 | [1] | Nov. 30, 2015 | [1] | Aug. 31, 2015 | [1] | May 31, 2015 | [1] | Feb. 28, 2015 | [1] | Nov. 30, 2014 | [1] | Aug. 31, 2016 | Aug. 31, 2015 | Aug. 31, 2014
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ 1,208,580 | $ 1,227,390 | $ 1,019,697 | $ 1,154,859 | $ 1,411,496 | $ 1,506,002 | $ 1,391,117 | $ 1,679,990 | $ 4,610,526 | $ 5,988,605 | $ 6,790,438
Steel products |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,156,028 | 4,084,092 | 4,500,093
Industrial materials |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 453,714 | 566,323 | 659,251
Nonferrous scrap |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 364,690 | 536,856 | 639,961
Ferrous scrap |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 287,713 | 428,192 | 659,578
Construction materials |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 242,961 | 220,232 | 199,154
Nonferrous products |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13,456 | 10,443 | 8,761
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Entity-Wide Information, Revenue from External Customer [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 91,964 | $ 142,467 | $ 123,640
[1] | Excludes divisions classified as discontinued operations. See Note 10, Businesses Held for Sale, Discontinued Operations and Dispositions.

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