<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
     The schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from PDV
     America,   Inc.'s  December  31,  1996  condensed   consolidated  financial
     statements  and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial
     statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0000906422
<NAME>                        PDV America, Inc.
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                                     U.S. Dollars
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                1
<CASH>                                             32,845
<SECURITIES>                                            0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   1,049,542
<ALLOWANCES>                                       17,706
<INVENTORY>                                       833,191
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                1,955,350
<PP&E>                                          3,391,119
<DEPRECIATION>                                    604,178
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  6,938,327
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           1,425,442
<BONDS>                                         2,465,336
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                             0
<COMMON>                                                1
<OTHER-SE>                                      2,111,074
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    6,938,327
<SALES>                                        12,952,060
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               13,071,318
<CGS>                                          12,491,003
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  12,660,162
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   13,275
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                194,362
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   215,781
<INCOME-TAX>                                       77,758
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               138,023
<DISCONTINUED>                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                         0
<CHANGES>                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                      138,023
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                           0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                           0