Exhibit 32

                         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly  Report of Ashland Inc. (the "Company") on
Form  10-Q  for the  period  ended  December  31,  2003 as  filed  with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),  each
of the  undersigned,  James J.  O'Brien,  Chief  Executive  Officer  of the
Company,  and J.  Marvin  Quin,  Chief  Financial  Officer of the  Company,
certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section
906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, to the best of his knowledge, that:

(1)      The Report  fully  complies,  in all material  respects,  with the
         requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
         Act of 1934; and

(2)      The information  contained in the Report fairly  presents,  in all
         material  respects,   the  financial   condition  and  results  of
         operations  of the Company as of and for the periods  presented in
         the report.

The foregoing certification is provided soley for purposes of complying with
the provisions of Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and is not
intended to be used or relied upon for any other purpose.

 /s/ James J. O'Brien
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James J. O'Brien
Chief Executive Officer
February 12, 2004

 /s/ J. Marvin Quin
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J. Marvin Quin
Chief Financial Officer
February 12, 2004


A signed  original of this  written  statement  required by Section 906 has
been  provided to Ashland  Inc.  and will be retained by Ashland  Inc.  and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or staff upon request.