<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 MARCH 31, 1997 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 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>                                 MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      3-MOS
<CASH>                                           115,475
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     67,648
<ALLOWANCES>                                       3,288
<INVENTORY>                                       16,256
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 209,229
<PP&E>                                           262,957
<DEPRECIATION>                                   173,689
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   357,990
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             70,114
<BONDS>                                           35,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                         112,246
<OTHER-SE>                                       109,231
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     357,990
<SALES>                                          133,345
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 136,190
<CGS>                                            106,960
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    106,960
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  11,807
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      20
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   521
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   16,882
<INCOME-TAX>                                       5,928
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               10,954
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      10,954
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0.89
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.83