<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
September 30, 2000  Consolidated  Balance Sheets and Consolidated  Statements of
Operations of Birmingham  Steel  Corporation and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such.

<MULTIPLIER>                                    1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              Jun-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   Sep-30-2000
<CASH>                                         935
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  100,116
<ALLOWANCES>                                   1,706
<INVENTORY>                                    163,486
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               270,421
<PP&E>                                         958,346
<DEPRECIATION>                                 329,510
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 940,945
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          119,907
<BONDS>                                        43,500
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       311
<OTHER-SE>                                     173,052
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   940,945
<SALES>                                        206,337
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               206,337
<CGS>                                          195,448
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  195,448
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               10,304
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               400
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             15,540
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (14,964)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   65
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (15,029)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (15,029)
<EPS-BASIC>                                    (.49)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (.49)