SCHEDULE 14A
                           (RULE 14A-101)

                      SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                        (AMENDMENT NO.      )

Filed by the Registrant {X}

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant {_}

Check the appropriate box:

{_}  Preliminary Proxy Statement
      {_} Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
      Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
{_}   Definitive Proxy Statement
{_}   Definitive Additional Materials
{X}   Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

                    BIRMINGHAM STEEL CORPORATION
      ---------------------------------------------------------
          (Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

                    ----------------------------
   (Name of person(s) filing proxy statement, if other than Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

{X}   No fee required.

{_} Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

      (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
      (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
      (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
            pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11:
      (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transactions:
      (5)   Total fee paid.

- -----
{_}   Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
{_}   Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
      Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
      fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
      statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

      (1)   Amount Previously Paid:
      (2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
      (3)   Filing Party:
      (4)   Date Filed:








                      BIRMINGHAM STEEL CORPORATION FILES PROXY


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. September 22, 1999 - Birmingham Steel Corporation (NYSE:
BIR) announced that the Company is today filing its preliminary proxy
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with
its Annual Meeting of Stockholders. As previously announced, the meeting is
scheduled to be held on December 2, 1999 at a location to be determined.
The Company's preliminary proxy statement as filed with the SEC is expected
to be available electronically for public inspection through the EDGAR
system later today.

Birmingham Steel operates in the mini-mill sector of the steel industry and
conducts operations at facilities located across the United States. The
Company produces steel reinforcing bar, merchant products and SBQ (special
bar quality) bar, rod and wire. The common stock of Birmingham Steel
Corporation is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"BIR."

Birmingham Steel Corporation (the "Company") and certain other persons
named below may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies
in connection with the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders. The
participants in this solicitation may include the directors of the Company
(William J. Cabaniss, Jr., C. Stephen Clegg, Alfred C. DeCrane, Jr., E.
Mandell de Windt, Robert A. Garvey, E. Bradley Jones, Robert D. Kennedy,
Richard de J. Osborne and John H. Roberts) and the following executive
officers, members of management and employees of the Company: Robert A.
Garvey (Chairman and Chief Executive Officer), Brian F. Hill (Chief
Operating Officer), Kevin E. Walsh (Executive Vice President - Chief
Financial Officer), William R. Lucas, Jr. (Managing Director - Southern
Region), Jack R. Wheeler (Managing Director - Northern Region), Raymond J.
Lepp (Managing Director - Western Region), J. Daniel Garrett (Vice
President - Finance & Control). Catherine W. Pecher (Vice President -
Administration & Corporate Secretary), Charles E. Richardson, III (General
Counsel), Philip L. Oakes (Vice President - Human Resources), W. Joel White
(Vice President - Information Technology) and Robert G. Wilson (Vice
President - Business Development). As of the date of this communication,
none of the foregoing participants individually owned in excess of 1
percent of the Company's common stock or in the aggregate in excess of 3
percent of the Company's common stock.

The Company has retained Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation ("CSFB")
and Banc of America Securities LLC ("BAS") to act as its financial
advisors, for which CSFB and BAS will receive customary fees, as well as
reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, the
Company has agreed to indemnify CSFB, BAS and certain related persons
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under federal securities
laws, arising out of their engagement. Each of CSFB and BAS are investment
banking firms that provide a full range of financial services for
institutional and individual clients. Neither CSFB nor BAS admit that it or
any of its directors, officers or employees is a "participant," as defined
in Schedule 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, in the solicitation, or that Schedule 14A requires the disclosure
of certain information concerning CSFB or BAS. In connection with their
role as financial advisors to the Company, each of CSFB and BAS, and the
following investment banking employees of CSFB or BAS, as the case may be,
may communicate in person, by telephone or otherwise with a limited number
of institutions, brokers or other persons who are stockholders of the
Company: Peter R. Matt, William C. Sharpstone and Murari S. Rajan of CSFB;
and Gidon Y. Cohen, Shawn B. Welch and Sumner T. Farren of BAS. In the
normal course of their business, both CSFB and BAS regularly buy and sell
securities issued by the Company for their own account and for the accounts
of their respective customers, which transactions may result in CSFB, BAS
or their respective associates having a net "long" or net "short" position
in the Company's securities, or option contracts or other derivatives in or
relating to such securities. As of September 3, 1999, CSFB had a net long
position of 14,200 shares of the Company's common stock and as of September
8, 1999, BAS had a net long position of 264,224 shares of the Company's
common stock.

CONTACT:    J. Daniel Garrett, 205-970-1213
            or
            Roy Winnick/Roanne Kulakoff
            Kekst and Company
            212-521-4842 or 4837