<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000813621
<NAME>                        AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     USD
       
                                                                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                12-MOS          12-MOS         3-MOS           6-MOS           9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1995     DEC-31-1996    DEC-31-1996     DEC-31-1996     DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                               JAN-01-1995     JAN-01-1996    JAN-01-1996     APR-01-1996     JUL-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1995     DEC-31-1996    MAR-31-1996     JUN-30-1996     SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                              1.00            1.00           1.00            1.00            1.00
<CASH>                                       1,888           3,054          3,534           1,315           4,300
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<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        35,882          51,870         38,178          41,821          52,238
<BONDS>                                      117,016         0              0               0               0
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<PREFERRED>                                  0               0              0               0               0
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<OTHER-SE>                                   155,281         0              0               0               0
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<SALES>                                      347,688         405,347        85,536          182,297         291,843
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             347,688         405,347        85,536          182,297         291,843
<CGS>                                        271,126         321,036        69,536          146,383         231,431
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                315,291         373,010        81,959          171,865         270,103
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             1,217           670            41              131             197
<LOSS-PROVISION>                             769             0              0               0               0
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<INCOME-CONTINUING>                          17,805          15,225         1,138           4,114           9,989
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                0.62            0.53           .04             .14             .35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                0.60            0.52           .04             .14             .34