<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
September 30, 1996  Consolidated  Balance Sheets and Consolidated  Statements of
Operations of Birmingham Steel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Jun-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-1996
<CASH>                                               7,397
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      113,719
<ALLOWANCES>                                         1,579
<INVENTORY>                                        191,445
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   320,816
<PP&E>                                             731,569
<DEPRECIATION>                                     143,722
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     962,658
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              147,488
<BONDS>                                            307,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               297
<OTHER-SE>                                         452,013
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                       962,658
<SALES>                                            233,422
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   233,422
<CGS>                                              209,416
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      209,416
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     1,422
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   3,988
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     10,760
<INCOME-TAX>                                         4,412
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  6,348
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                         6,348
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .22