<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000906422 <NAME> PDV America, Inc. <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US Dollars <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-mos <FISCAL-YEAR-END> Dec-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> Jan-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 38,776 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 616,896 <ALLOWANCES> 25,246 <INVENTORY> 954,623 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,901,991 <PP&E> 4,230,760 <DEPRECIATION> 810,976 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 7,105,996 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,520,483 <BONDS> 1,905,870 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1 <OTHER-SE> 2,574,394 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 7,105,996 <SALES> 2,748,946 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,796,140 <CGS> 2,536,189 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,596,471 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,000 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 47,023 <INCOME-PRETAX> 152,688 <INCOME-TAX> 57,350 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 95,338 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 95,338 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0