<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>

THIS DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE TJ INTERNATIONAL, INC. BALANCE SHEET AT OCTOBER 3, 1998, AND FROM
ITS STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 3, 1998. 
THE INFORMATION PRESENTED IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                       
<PERIOD-TYPE>            9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                       OCT-03-1998
<CASH>                             136,814
<SECURITIES>                            0 
<RECEIVABLES>                       99,128
<ALLOWANCES>                           390
<INVENTORY>                         65,999
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   314,384
<PP&E>                             626,209
<DEPRECIATION>                     249,254
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     727,951
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               91,034
<BONDS>                            142,390
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                   0
<PREFERRED>                         13,391
<COMMON>                            18,018
<OTHER-SE>                         193,855
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       727,951
<SALES>                            601,613
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   601,613
<CGS>                              440,917
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      440,917
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    88,968
<LOSS-PROVISION>                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                   6,740
<INCOME-PRETAX>                     36,541
<INCOME-TAX>                        13,703
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                 22,838
<DISCONTINUED>                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         0
<CHANGES>                               0
<NET-INCOME>                        22,838
<EPS-PRIMARY>                         1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                         1.23