<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 MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000
       
                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      9-MOS
<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>                                       3.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       3.23