<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VALHI, INC.'S
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIODS NOTED BELOW AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  SUCH
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS OF (i) MEDITE CORPORATION AS DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS and (ii) THE
AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY ON THE EQUITY METHOD.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996 
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                         142,468                 144,669                 160,613
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  249,645                 258,206                 243,427
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,199                   4,698                   5,509
<INVENTORY>                                    467,842                 373,642                 318,257
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               872,378                 788,665                 439,861
<PP&E>                                       1,195,631               1,210,003               1,206,277
<DEPRECIATION>                                 345,163                 359,429                 348,725
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,495,730               2,417,988               2,368,890
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          598,036                 561,657                 570,532
<BONDS>                                      1,105,284               1,078,667               1,038,682
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,247                   1,248                   1,248
<OTHER-SE>                                     265,390                 268,359                 259,822
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,495,730               2,417,988               2,368,890
<SALES>                                        289,203                 603,404                 902,681
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               289,203                 603,404                 902,681
<CGS>                                          211,704                 449,296                 685,265
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  211,704                 449,296                 685,265
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   103                   (499)                    (717)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              25,309                  50,078                  74,976
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 15,695                  28,899                  21,156
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,178                   8,483                   5,411
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              9,196                  15,796                   8,826
<DISCONTINUED>                                (14,884)                (12,734)                 (10,674)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,688)                   3,062                  (1,848)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.05)                     .03                    (.02)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0