<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