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 June 30, 2004 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  solely 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
- -----------------------
James J. O'Brien
Chief Executive Officer
August 12, 2004

 /s/ J. Marvin Quin
- ----------------------
J. Marvin Quin
Chief Financial Officer
August 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.