BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Summary of Certain Financial Information from Continuing Operations by Reportable Segment and Major Product) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Feb. 29, 2024	Feb. 28, 2023	Feb. 29, 2024	Feb. 28, 2023	Aug. 31, 2023
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,848,287	$ 2,018,003	$ 3,851,338	$ 4,245,316
Adjusted EBITDA reportable segments	231,612	312,260	568,236	754,721
Total assets	6,662,265	6,639,094	6,662,265	6,639,094	$ 6,639,094
Unaffiliated Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales			3,851,338	4,245,316
Raw materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	329,143	322,701	646,512	620,888
Steel products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	770,488	901,413	1,603,780	1,916,943
Downstream products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	577,277	591,150	1,230,453	1,294,507
Construction products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	65,467	75,431	143,226	158,998
Ground stabilization solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	45,135	48,914	102,458	107,993
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	60,777	78,394	124,909	145,987
North America Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,505,106	1,525,487	3,117,393	3,215,502
Europe Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	193,558	338,223	419,309	725,258
Emerging Businesses Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	163,447	160,744	345,473	340,056
Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	(13,824)	(6,451)	(30,837)	(35,500)
Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,834,696	1,994,932	3,829,760	4,216,130
Adjusted EBITDA reportable segments	231,612	312,260	568,236	754,721
Total assets	5,829,640	5,968,319	5,829,640	5,968,319
Segments \| North America Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,486,202	1,503,774	3,078,852	3,167,935
Adjusted EBITDA reportable segments	222,294	274,240	489,114	624,027
Total assets	4,252,618	4,166,521	4,252,618	4,166,521
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Unaffiliated Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales			3,078,852	3,167,935
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Raw materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	325,006	317,807	638,661	611,127
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Steel products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	612,308	628,806	1,270,068	1,332,400
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Downstream products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	513,253	515,492	1,090,255	1,134,459
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Construction products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Ground stabilization solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| North America Steel Group \| Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	35,635	41,669	79,868	89,949
Segments \| Europe Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	192,500	337,560	417,675	724,063
Adjusted EBITDA reportable segments	(8,611)	11,469	30,331	72,717
Total assets	739,354	927,468	739,354	927,468
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Unaffiliated Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales			417,675	724,063
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Raw materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,137	4,894	7,851	9,761
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Steel products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	158,180	272,607	333,712	584,543
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Downstream products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	23,517	50,128	62,145	109,710
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Construction products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Ground stabilization solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Europe Steel Group \| Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	6,666	9,931	13,967	20,049
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	155,994	153,598	333,233	324,132
Adjusted EBITDA reportable segments	17,929	26,551	48,791	57,977
Total assets	837,668	874,330	837,668	874,330
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Unaffiliated Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales			333,233	324,132
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Raw materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Steel products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Downstream products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	40,507	25,530	78,053	50,338
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Construction products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	65,467	75,431	143,226	158,998
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Ground stabilization solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	45,135	48,914	102,458	107,993
Segments \| Emerging Businesses Group \| Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	4,885	3,723	9,496	6,803
Segments \| Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	13,591	23,071	21,578	29,186
Total assets	832,625	670,775	832,625	670,775
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Unaffiliated Customers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales			21,578	29,186
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Raw materials
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Steel products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Downstream products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Construction products
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Ground stabilization solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Segments \| Corporate and Other \| Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	13,591	23,071	21,578	29,186
Intersegment \| North America Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	18,904	21,713	38,541	47,567
Intersegment \| Europe Steel Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	1,058	663	1,634	1,195
Intersegment \| Emerging Businesses Group
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	7,453	7,146	12,240	15,924
Intersegment \| Corporate and Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ (27,415)	$ (29,522)	$ (52,415)	$ (64,686)