<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  UNAUDITED  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL INFORMATION  FOR TREDEGAR
INDUSTRIES,  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE BALANCE SHEET FOR THE
PERIOD  ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND  IS  QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                         114,001
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   82,220
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,764
<INVENTORY>                                     18,073
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               224,417
<PP&E>                                         277,848
<DEPRECIATION>                                 180,419
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 397,740
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           80,862
<BONDS>                                         30,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       113,051
<OTHER-SE>                                     141,261
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   397,740
<SALES>                                        433,372
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               445,073
<CGS>                                          343,658
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  343,658
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                34,014
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   331
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,598
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 65,472
<INCOME-TAX>                                    23,034
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             42,438
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    42,438
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.00