<ARTICLE>        5
<LEGEND>
The schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from the WHX
Corporation  Consolidated  Financial  Statements as of September 30, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>        1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                                   JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                                     SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                                                 6,441
<SECURITIES>                                                         397,366
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        114,685
<ALLOWANCES>                                                           1,632
<INVENTORY>                                                          270,762
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                     799,489
<PP&E>                                                             1,105,706
<DEPRECIATION>                                                       339,528
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                     1,784,311
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                                252,757
<BONDS>                                                              276,433
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                      0
<PREFERRED>                                                              626
<COMMON>                                                                 254
<OTHER-SE>                                                           670,882
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                       1,784,311
<SALES>                                                              391,925
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                     391,925
<CGS>                                                                330,328
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                        370,208
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                           0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                           0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                     6,507
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       24,739
<INCOME-TAX>                                                           7,422
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   17,317
<DISCONTINUED>                                                             0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                            0
<CHANGES>                                                                  0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          17,317
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                            .45
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                            .39