<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 10,169,141 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 47,336,327 <ALLOWANCES> 815,296 <INVENTORY> 92,774,573 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 173,779,118 <PP&E> 635,815,221 <DEPRECIATION> 53,307,058 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 787,226,440 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 74,658,201 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 491,583 <OTHER-SE> 337,693,560 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 787,226,440 <SALES> 239,502,277 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 246,009,102 <CGS> 205,324,525 <TOTAL-COSTS> 211,428,281 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9,774,813 <INCOME-PRETAX> 24,950,300 <INCOME-TAX> 9,861,887 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 15,088,413 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 15,088,413 <EPS-PRIMARY> .31 <EPS-DILUTED> .31