<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS YEAR-TO-DATE SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION FISCAL 2001 SECOND QUARTER FORM 10-Q AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10-Q FILING.

<CIK> 0000066895
<NAME> MISSISSIPPI CHEMICAL CORPORATION

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUN-30-2001
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-2000
<CASH>                                           2,278
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   50,510
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<PP&E>                                         844,096
<DEPRECIATION>                                 416,597
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 857,952
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           81,776
<BONDS>                                        214,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
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<COMMON>                                           280
<OTHER-SE>                                     380,311
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   857,952
<SALES>                                        256,368
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<CGS>                                          257,680
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  280,098
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               (2,380)
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 (108)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              14,269
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               (35,619)
<INCOME-TAX>                                  (14,162)
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<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.82)
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