<ARTICLE>              5
<LEGEND>
                       This schedule contains summary financial
                       information  extracted from Form 10-Q for the period
                       ended March 31, 1997 and is qualified in its
                       entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                  854599
<NAME>                 THE GENERAL CHEMICAL CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>           1,000
       
                              
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                              MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                             3-MOS
<CASH>                                    $  41,681
<SECURITIES>                                      0
<RECEIVABLES>                                93,371
<ALLOWANCES>                                  4,688
<INVENTORY>                                  32,927
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            175,628
<PP&E>                                      375,908
<DEPRECIATION>                              165,507
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              416,505
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       125,069
<BONDS>                                     212,869
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                             0
<PREFERRED>                                       0
<COMMON>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                 (133,784)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                416,505
<SALES>                                     115,736
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            115,736
<CGS>                                        82,612
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                82,612
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                            5,233
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              11,658
<INCOME-TAX>                                  4,535
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           7,123
<DISCONTINUED>                                    0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                   0
<CHANGES>                                         0
<NET-INCOME>                                  7,123
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0