<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10-K FILING FOR YEAR ENDED 3/31/98 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 MAR-31-1997 <CASH> 68,960 122,491 <SECURITIES> 0 0 <RECEIVABLES> 209,915 190,675 <ALLOWANCES> 177 107 <INVENTORY> 49,072 68,125 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 373,030 427,257 <PP&E> 520,348 520,718 <DEPRECIATION> 187,167 162,615 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 932,180 1,000,588 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 277,402 319,066 <BONDS> 180,810 237,071 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 44,979 0 <PREFERRED> 0 0 <COMMON> 121 131 <OTHER-SE> 220,654 218,661 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 932,180 1,000,588 <SALES> 1,075,506 1,089,397 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,075,506 1,089,397 <CGS> 881,237 925,137 <TOTAL-COSTS> 881,237 925,137 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 12,447 16,207 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 27,621 35,102 <INCOME-PRETAX> 67,958 36,659 <INCOME-TAX> 0 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 67,958 36,659 <DISCONTINUED> 225 22,500 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 0 <CHANGES> 0 0 <NET-INCOME> 68,183 59,159 <EPS-PRIMARY> 5.23 4.55 <EPS-DILUTED> 5.10 4.41