<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM 10(k) FILING
FOR YEAR ENDED 3/31/00 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2000 MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> APR-01-1999 APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 MAR-31-1999
<CASH> 45,765 21,078
<SECURITIES> 427 408
<RECEIVABLES> 244,881 233,499
<ALLOWANCES> 1,056 1,056
<INVENTORY> 53,629 44,030
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 351,050 343,108
<PP&E> 572,162 547,114
<DEPRECIATION> (236,534) (211,363)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 905,984 894,318
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 356,593 286,488
<BONDS> 277,109 305,993
0 0
0 0
<COMMON> 139 139
<OTHER-SE> 114,808 118,584
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 905,984 894,318
<SALES> 1,077,520 1,090,438
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,077,520 1,090,438
<CGS> 868,184 895,214
<TOTAL-COSTS> 868,184 895,214
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,177 8,874
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 33,999 24,731
<INCOME-PRETAX> 87,230 79,547
<INCOME-TAX> 22,778 11,932
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 64,452 67,615
<DISCONTINUED> 9,450 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0 (16,802)
<CHANGES> 0 0
<NET-INCOME> 73,902 50,813
<EPS-BASIC> 7.43 4.26
<EPS-DILUTED> 7.29 4.15
</TABLE>