<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
     financial statements of Tech Data Corporation for the period ended October
     31, 1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                 FEB-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   OCT-31-1997
<CASH>                                         1,893
<SECURITIES>                                   0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  920,493
<ALLOWANCES>                                   30,362
<INVENTORY>                                    1,014,684
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               1,974,826
<PP&E>                                         82,877
<DEPRECIATION>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 2,128,472
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          1,582,419
<BONDS>                                        8,737
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    5
<COMMON>                                       67
<OTHER-SE>                                     526,668
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   2,128,472
<SALES>                                        4,943,445
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               4,943,445
<CGS>                                          4,614,948
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  4,820,886
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               205,938
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             20,644
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                101,915
<INCOME-TAX>                                   38,556
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            63,359
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   63,359
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                  1.39
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  1.39