<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT SEPTEMBER 30, 2000 AND THE RELATED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER
30, 2000 OF PHELPS DODGE CORPORATION AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                         245,900
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  648,100
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    441,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,618,100
<PP&E>                                       9,089,600
<DEPRECIATION>                               3,149,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               8,022,300
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,469,800
<BONDS>                                      2,031,600
<COMMON>                                       492,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,663,900
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 8,022,300
<SALES>                                      3,426,000
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             3,426,000
<CGS>                                        2,701,100
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                2,701,100
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               438,900
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             163,800
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 42,200
<INCOME-TAX>                                    17,300
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             20,900
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    20,900
<EPS-BASIC>                                       0.27
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.27