<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  UNAUDITED  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION FOR TREDEGAR
INDUSTRIES,  INC.  AND  SUBSIDIARIES  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE  BALANCE  SHEET AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE  STATEMENT OF  INCOME  FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                         120,065
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   73,035
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,363
<INVENTORY>                                     20,008
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               223,130
<PP&E>                                         283,995
<DEPRECIATION>                                 183,397
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 410,937
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           72,786
<BONDS>                                         30,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                       115,291
<OTHER-SE>                                     157,255
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   410,937
<SALES>                                        581,004
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               598,019
<CGS>                                          457,946
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  457,946
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                47,621
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   334
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               1,952
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 90,166
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,720
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             58,446
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,446
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     4.76
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     4.43