<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS UNAUDITED SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR TREDEGAR
INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE SHEET AS OF DEC.
31, 1996 AND THE STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED DEC. 31, 1996 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                       1,000
       
                                          
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     12-MOS
<CASH>                                           101,261
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     64,563
<ALLOWANCES>                                       3,487
<INVENTORY>                                       17,658
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 194,422
<PP&E>                                           260,200
<DEPRECIATION>                                   169,771
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   341,077
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                             61,301
<BONDS>                                           35,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                         113,019
<OTHER-SE>                                        99,526
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     341,077
<SALES>                                          523,551
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 527,799
<CGS>                                            417,270
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    417,270
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  38,877
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     481
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 2,176
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   68,995
<INCOME-TAX>                                      23,960
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               45,035
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      45,035
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       3.69
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       3.44