<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>       THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
               EXTRACTED FROM THE ARMCO INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
               SHEETS AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
               ACCUMULATED DEFICIT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
               REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
<CIK>          0000007383
<NAME>         ARMCO INC.
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
<CURRENCY>     U.S. DOLLAR

                           
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-TYPE>                 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                  JUN-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                         1
<CASH>                            151,200
<SECURITIES>                       25,100
<RECEIVABLES>                     223,000
<ALLOWANCES>                            0
<INVENTORY>                       242,600
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  652,500
<PP&E>                          1,357,700
<DEPRECIATION>                    746,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                  1,829,700
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             305,500
<BONDS>                           247,800
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0
<PREFERRED>                       185,900
<COMMON>                            1,100
<OTHER-SE>                         48,500
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>    1,829,700
<SALES>                           867,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  867,100
<CGS>                             757,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     757,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 11,300
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    69,000
<INCOME-TAX>                       10,000
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                59,000
<DISCONTINUED>                      7,500
<EXTRAORDINARY>                    (2,800)
<CHANGES>                               0
<NET-INCOME>                       63,700
<EPS-BASIC>                        0.50
<EPS-DILUTED>                        0.47