<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> TRANS-RESOURCES INC. Financial Data Schedule Article 5 of Regulation S-X </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 25,192 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 94,839 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 65,876 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 278,119 <PP&E> 334,756 <DEPRECIATION> 124,334 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 542,252 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 152,080 <BONDS> 336,224 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 7,960 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 14,743 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 542,252 <SALES> 104,962 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 104,962 <CGS> 84,976 <TOTAL-COSTS> 84,976 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,750 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 8,220 <INCOME-PRETAX> 23,836 <INCOME-TAX> 636 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 23,200 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> (10,940) <CHANGES> (1,253) <NET-INCOME> 11,007 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0