<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, 1999 AND THE  STATEMENT  OF INCOME FOR THE THREE  MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY  REFERENCE  TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
       
                                            
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                  3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                         27,991
<SECURITIES>                                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  99,101
<ALLOWANCES>                                    3,592
<INVENTORY>                                    33,670
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              168,884
<PP&E>                                        366,655
<DEPRECIATION>                                205,633
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                479,734
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          95,559
<BONDS>                                        25,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       96,763
<OTHER-SE>                                    228,275
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                  479,734
<SALES>                                       179,541
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              179,800
<CGS>                                         140,326
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 140,326
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               15,217
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  253
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                289
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                23,715
<INCOME-TAX>                                    8,417
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            15,298
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   15,298
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     .42
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     .39