<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