<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PDV
     AMERICA, INC.'S SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL 
     STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
     STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-1-1996
<PERIOD-END>                    SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                           1
<CASH>                               30,028
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                       973,910
<ALLOWANCES>                         20,022
<INVENTORY>                         897,615
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  1,966,743
<PP&E>                            3,275,436
<DEPRECIATION>                      570,303
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    6,827,692
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             1,308,967
<BONDS>                           2,463,003
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                                  1
<OTHER-SE>                        2,060,020
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      6,827,692
<SALES>                           9,251,647
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  9,343,751
<CGS>                             8,936,804
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     9,059,968
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      8,788
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                  143,735
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     138,595
<INCOME-TAX>                         51,626
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  86,969
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         86,969
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0