<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> TRANS-RESOURCES, INC. Financial Data Schedule Article 5 of Regulation S-X </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 36,410 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 78,841 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 63,243 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 222,096 <PP&E> 303,346 <DEPRECIATION> 103,244 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 448,205 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 106,452 <BONDS> 272,197 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 7,960 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 31,982 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 448,205 <SALES> 331,574 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 331,574 <CGS> 272,206 <TOTAL-COSTS> 272,206 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 34,549 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,847 <INCOME-PRETAX> 25,447 <INCOME-TAX> 3,700 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 21,747 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (553) <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 21,194 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0