<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE MARCH
31, 1997 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          25,270
<SECURITIES>                                     3,243
<RECEIVABLES>                                   23,285
<ALLOWANCES>                                     1,413
<INVENTORY>                                     28,430
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                86,001
<PP&E>                                         348,013
<DEPRECIATION>                                 126,001
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 356,580
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           77,041
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           121
<OTHER-SE>                                      39,969
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   356,579
<SALES>                                        719,948
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 6,093
<CGS>                                          569,485
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  713,381
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              11,481
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,179
<INCOME-TAX>                                        69
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              1,110
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     1,110
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0