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INVENTORIES, NET
9 Months Ended
May 31, 2016
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]  
Inventories, net
NOTE 4. INVENTORIES, NET

As of May 31, 2016, inventories were stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. As of August 31, 2015, inventories were stated at the lower of cost or market. See Note 1, Accounting Policies, for further discussion of the adoption of the new accounting pronouncement.

Effective September 1, 2015, the Company elected to change its accounting method for valuing all of its inventories that used the LIFO method to either the weighted average or specific identification methods. The Company applied this change in accounting principle retrospectively to all prior periods presented. See Note 1, Accounting Policies, for further disclosures regarding this change in accounting principle.

Additionally, effective September 1, 2015, the Company elected to change its accounting method for valuing all of its inventories in its International Marketing and Distribution segment, except for its steel trading division headquartered in the U.S., from the FIFO method to the specification identification method. Because this change in accounting principle was immaterial in all prior periods, it was not applied retrospectively. The change did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016. See Note 1, Accounting Policies, for further disclosures regarding this change in accounting principle.

The Company determines the inventory cost for its International Mill segment using the weighted average cost method.

At May 31, 2016, 59% of the Company's total net inventories were valued using the weighted average cost method and 41% of the Company's total net inventories were valued using the specification identification method.

The majority of the Company's inventories are in the form of finished goods. At May 31, 2016 and August 31, 2015, $82.0 million and $61.5 million, respectively, of the Company's inventories were in the form of raw materials. Work in process inventories were $32.6 million at May 31, 2016 and were minimal at August 31, 2015.

During the three and nine months ended May 31, 2016, inventory write-downs were $1.6 million and $9.6 million, respectively, and were $17.4 million and $21.5 million during the three and nine months ended May 31, 2015.