<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0001079178 <NAME> NORTHWEST ALUMINUM COMPANY <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> 0 548 614 <SECURITIES> 0 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 0 44,784 35,865 <ALLOWANCES> 0 1,000 1,000 <INVENTORY> 0 40,071 35,146 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 84,673 73,114 <PP&E> 0 76,626 81,771 <DEPRECIATION> 0 39,049 43,256 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 0 131,735 118,768 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 47,796 37,752 <BONDS> 0 67,540 64,600 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 0 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 0 <COMMON> 0 38 38 <OTHER-SE> 0 19,861 16,378 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 0 131,735 118,768 <SALES> 244,839 296,271 294,698 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 244,839 296,271 294,698 <CGS> 227,858 282,439 282,707 <TOTAL-COSTS> 227,858 282,439 282,707 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 5,345 7,814 8,293 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,516 6,406 7,463 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,858) 5,651 7,181 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (1,858) 5,651 7,181 <DISCONTINUED> 0 0 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 0 <NET-INCOME> (1,858) 5,651 7,181 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 0 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0 0 0