<ARTICLE>                5
<LEGEND>
The schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from the WHX
Corporation  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  as of  March  31,  1998 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                     1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                                                    0
<SECURITIES>                                                        833,896
<RECEIVABLES>                                                        57,606
<ALLOWANCES>                                                          1,269
<INVENTORY>                                                         283,522
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  1,196,196
<PP&E>                                                            1,126,224
<DEPRECIATION>                                                      400,087
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    2,320,896
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                               865,742
<BONDS>                                                             354,554
<COMMON>                                                                184
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     0
<PREFERRED>                                                             589
<OTHER-SE>                                                          611,562
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                      2,320,896
<SALES>                                                             304,078
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                    304,078
<CGS>                                                               269,657
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                       308,437
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                          0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                    9,847
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                       1,577
<INCOME-TAX>                                                            489
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                   1,088
<DISCONTINUED>                                                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                           0
<CHANGES>                                                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                                                          1,088
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                       (0.21)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        (0.21)