<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>
<CIK>                         0001079177
<NAME>                        Golden Northwest Aluminum, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1000
       
                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     YEAR           YEAR            YEAR       
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1996    DEC-31-1997     DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1996    JAN-01-1997     JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                      DEC-31-1996    DEC-31-1997     DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                  6,345          1,251          37,633
<SECURITIES>                                0              0               0
<RECEIVABLES>                          60,490         61,862          47,264
<ALLOWANCES>                            1,296          1,000           1,000
<INVENTORY>                            51,389         60,892          55,083
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                      120,146        125,871         144,386
<PP&E>                                113,105        113,812         117,761
<DEPRECIATION>                         30,694         40,749          61,147
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        350,815        347,011         366,128
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                  58,238         89,473          65,994
<BONDS>                               185,441        134,941         170,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0              0               0
<PREFERRED>                            29,663         29,663          29,663
<COMMON>                                    0              0               0
<OTHER-SE>                             65,354         65,504          65,504
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          350,815        347,011         366,128
<SALES>                               373,038        497,872         470,850
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                      373,038        497,872         470,850
<CGS>                                 329,739        438,299         443,251
<TOTAL-COSTS>                         329,739        438,299         443,251
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                        8,012         12,477          10,574
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0              0               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                      9,454         16,723          14,180
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        25,541         31,769            (292)
<INCOME-TAX>                            6,636         13,274           3,009
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    18,905         18,495          (3,301)
<DISCONTINUED>                              0              0               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                             0              0          (1,552)
<CHANGES>                                   0              0               0
<NET-INCOME>                           18,905         18,495          (4,853)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                          18,905         18,495          (4,853)
<EPS-DILUTED>                               0              0               0