<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000833226 <NAME> CHAPARRAL STEEL COMPANY <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1995 <PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1996 <CASH> 20,014 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 52,378 <ALLOWANCES> 2,848 <INVENTORY> 121,791 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 199,092 <PP&E> 493,516 <DEPRECIATION> 279,447 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 475,337 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 62,369 <BONDS> 66,697 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 2,994 <OTHER-SE> 291,971 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 475,337 <SALES> 607,656 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 607,656 <CGS> 477,606 <TOTAL-COSTS> 477,606 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 635 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 10,007 <INCOME-PRETAX> 65,769 <INCOME-TAX> 23,792 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 41,977 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 41,977 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.43 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.43