
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM VALHI, INC.'S
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE PERIODS NOTED BELOW AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  SUCH
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO PRESENT THE RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS OF (i) MEDITE CORPORATION AS DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, (ii) THE
AMALGAMATED SUGAR COMPANY ON THE EQUITY METHOD and (iii) SYBRA, INC. AS
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996              DEC-31-1996 
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996              JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996              DEC-31-1996
<CASH>                                         142,468                 144,669                 160,613                  255,679
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                  142,478
<RECEIVABLES>                                  249,645                 258,206                 243,427                  158,589
<ALLOWANCES>                                     5,199                   4,698                   5,509                    4,087
<INVENTORY>                                    467,842                 373,642                 318,257                  251,597
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               872,378                 788,665                 439,861                  837,663
<PP&E>                                       1,195,631               1,210,003               1,206,277                  853,681
<DEPRECIATION>                                 345,163                 359,429                 348,725                  163,442
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,495,730               2,417,988               2,368,890                2,144,982
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          598,036                 561,657                 570,532                  563,680
<BONDS>                                      1,105,284               1,078,667               1,038,682                  844,468
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0                       0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0                       0                        0
<COMMON>                                         1,247                   1,248                   1,248                    1,248
<OTHER-SE>                                     265,390                 268,359                 259,822                  302,671
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,495,730               2,417,988               2,368,890                2,144,982
<SALES>                                        261,651                 546,541                 816,757                1,074,818
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               261,651                 546,541                 816,757                1,074,818
<CGS>                                          187,291                 399,538                 610,008                  808,248
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  187,291                 399,538                 610,008                  808,248
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   103                   (499)                    (717)                   1,860
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              24,808                  49,105                  73,574                   98,497
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 14,762                  26,166                  16,924                    8,093
<INCOME-TAX>                                     3,831                   7,433                   3,780                    1,113
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,610                  14,113                   6,225                       65
<DISCONTINUED>                                (14,298)                (11,051)                 (8,073)                   41,981
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0                        0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (5,688)                   3,062                  (1,848)                  42,046
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.05)                     .03                    (.02)                     .37
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                       0                       0                        0
        


</TABLE>
