<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PDV AMERICA,
INC.'S  MARCH  31,  1997  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>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>               DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                  JAN-1-1997
<PERIOD-END>                    MAR-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                           1
<CASH>                               16,587
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                       945,139
<ALLOWANCES>                         18,457
<INVENTORY>                         918,423
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                  1,884,327
<PP&E>                            3,435,011
<DEPRECIATION>                      634,344
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                    6,940,894
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>             1,244,087
<BONDS>                           2,621,349
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<COMMON>                                  1
<OTHER-SE>                        2,126,122
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>      6,940,894
<SALES>                           3,262,726
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  3,294,664
<CGS>                             3,177,759
<TOTAL-COSTS>                     3,220,108
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                          0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      3,989
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   50,516
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      23,803
<INCOME-TAX>                          8,755
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  15,048
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         15,048
<EPS-PRIMARY>                             0
<EPS-DILUTED>                             0