<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VALHI,
INC.'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31,
2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000059255
<NAME>                        Valhi, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                         185,760
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  200,023
<ALLOWANCES>                                   6,340
<INVENTORY>                                    209,075
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               638,869
<PP&E>                                         737,600
<DEPRECIATION>                                 192,115
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,197,325
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          358,949
<BONDS>                                        622,710
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       1,257
<OTHER-SE>                                     585,417
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,197,325
<SALES>                                        301,728
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               301,728
<CGS>                                          214,603
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  214,603
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               681
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             17,348
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                31,631
<INCOME-TAX>                                   14,772
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            10,485
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   10,485
<EPS-BASIC>                                    .09
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  .09