<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.
       
                                                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                               0                   1,251                  37,633
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                  61,862                  47,264
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                   1,000                   1,000
<INVENTORY>                                          0                  60,892                  55,083
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                 125,871                 144,386
<PP&E>                                               0                 113,812                 117,761
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0                  40,749                  61,147
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       0                 347,011                 366,128
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                  89,473                  65,994
<BONDS>                                              0                 134,941                 170,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                  29,663                  29,663
<COMMON>                                             0                       0                       0
<OTHER-SE>                                           0                  65,504                  65,504
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         0                 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