<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>             THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                     EXTRACTED  FROM ASHLAND INC.'S 2ND QUARTER 10-Q AND IS
                     QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH 10-Q.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
       
                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                  SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                       MAR-31-1996
<CASH>                                                      70
<SECURITIES>                                                 0
<RECEIVABLES>                                            1,662
<ALLOWANCES>                                                25
<INVENTORY>                                                810
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         2,737
<PP&E>                                                   7,159
<DEPRECIATION>                                           3,601
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           7,156
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    2,271
<BONDS>                                                  1,749
<COMMON>                                                    64
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                293
<OTHER-SE>                                               1,353
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                             7,156
<SALES>                                                  6,151
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                         6,270
<CGS>                                                    5,429
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            5,429
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                           633
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                             0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          86
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            122
<INCOME-TAX>                                                42
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                         85
<DISCONTINUED>                                               0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                              0
<CHANGES>                                                    0
<NET-INCOME>                                                85
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                             1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                             1.15