<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains summary financial  information  extracted from the March
31, 1999 Consolidated  Balance Sheets and Consolidated  Statements of Operations
of Birmingham Steel Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                   0000779334
<NAME>                                  Birmingham Steel Corporation
<MULTIPLIER>                                  1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Jun-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   Mar-31-1999
<CASH>                                         1,414
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  107,962
<ALLOWANCES>                                   936
<INVENTORY>                                    175,380
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               304,703
<PP&E>                                         1,082,943
<DEPRECIATION>                                 257,655
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,225,766
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          154,014
<BONDS>                                        53,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       298
<OTHER-SE>                                     435,502
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,225,766
<SALES>                                        224,486
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               224,486
<CGS>                                          208,581
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  208,581
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               20,623
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             8,113
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (24,048)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (8,417)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (15,631)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (15,631)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  (0.53)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.53)