<ARTICLE> 5
<CIK> 0000805264
<NAME> GEORGIA GULF CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                           3,494
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   65,725
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,372
<INVENTORY>                                     74,384
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               154,012
<PP&E>                                         678,136
<DEPRECIATION>                                 271,465
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 676,420
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          116,762
<BONDS>                                        463,840
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           309
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,120
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   676,420
<SALES>                                        678,725
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               678,725
<CGS>                                          543,513
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  543,513
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 9,500<F1>
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,000
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              22,882
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 69,619
<INCOME-TAX>                                    25,982
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             43,637
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,637
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.38
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.36
<FN>
<F1>Loss on interest rate hedge agreement.
</FN>