<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE UNAUDITED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ALUMAX INC. AT JUNE 30, 1996 AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1996 <CASH> 24 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 538 <ALLOWANCES> 25 <INVENTORY> 614 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,396 <PP&E> 3,115 <DEPRECIATION> 1,066 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,617 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 827 <BONDS> 693 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 2 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 1,569 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,617 <SALES> 1,654 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,654 <CGS> 1,312 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,515 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 34 <INCOME-PRETAX> 292 <INCOME-TAX> 113 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 292 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 179 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.81 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.23