<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE GOLDEN NORTHWEST ALUMINUM, INC. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <NAME> Golden Northwest Aluminum, Inc. <CIK> 0001079177 <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR YEAR 9-MOS 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1995 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1997 DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1994 JAN-01-1996 JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1997 JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1995 DEC-31-1996 DEC-31-1997 SEP-30-1997 SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 0 6,345 1,251 0 1,122 <SECURITIES> 0 0 0 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 60,490 61,862 0 48,119 <ALLOWANCES> 0 1,296 1,000 0 (1,000) <INVENTORY> 0 51,389 60,892 0 62,314 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 120,146 125,871 0 114,223 <PP&E> 0 113,105 113,812 0 116,167 <DEPRECIATION> 0 30,894 40,749 0 45,892 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 350,815 347,011 0 332,895 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 58,238 89,473 0 73,115 <BONDS> 0 185,441 134,941 0 104,275 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 29,663 29,663 0 29,663 <COMMON> 0 40 40 0 40 <OTHER-SE> 0 65,314 65,464 0 65,584 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 0 350,815 347,011 0 332,895 <SALES> 289,693 373,038 497,872 363,282 360,035 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 289,693 373,038 497,872 363,282 360,035 <CGS> 256,211 329,739 438,299 314,575 329,897 <TOTAL-COSTS> 256,211 329,739 438,299 314,575 329,897 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 8,293 9,746 15,327 10,574 12,087 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 948 9,454 16,723 11,850 11,251 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,696 25,541 31,789 29,616 8,340 <INCOME-TAX> 0 6,636 13,274 11,962 4,685 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,696 18,905 18,495 17,654 3,655 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 23,696 18,905 18,495 17,654 3,655 <EPS-PRIMARY> 23,696 18,905 18,495 17,654 3,655 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 0 0 0