<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  TESORO
PETROLEUM  CORPORATION'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD
ENDED JUNE 30, 1996,  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN  ITS  ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                        
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                            5,494
<SECURITIES>                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   163,552
<ALLOWANCES>                                      2,156
<INVENTORY>                                      82,796
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                259,289
<PP&E>                                          522,265
<DEPRECIATION>                                  237,396
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  572,810
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           107,649
<BONDS>                                         168,599
<COMMON>                                          4,382
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<OTHER-SE>                                      242,070
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    572,810
<SALES>                                         472,370
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                477,473
<CGS>                                           409,378
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   409,378
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 20,170
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                8,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  27,453
<INCOME-TAX>                                      9,473
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              17,980
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                     17,980
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       .69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       .69