<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>            THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION
                    EXTRACTED   FROM  ASHLAND   INC.'S   ANNUAL  REPORT  TO
                    SHAREHOLDERS  FOR THE FISCAL  YEAR  ENDED  SEPTEMBER 30,
                    1996 AND IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
                    SUCH ANNUAL REPORT.
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000,000
       
                                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                            YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                 SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                      SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                                     77
<SECURITIES>                                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                                           1,693
<ALLOWANCES>                                               27
<INVENTORY>                                               736
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                        2,740
<PP&E>                                                  7,374
<DEPRECIATION>                                          3,659
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                          7,269
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                   2,279
<BONDS>                                                 1,784
<COMMON>                                                   64
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       0
<PREFERRED>                                               293
<OTHER-SE>                                              1,457
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                            7,269
<SALES>                                                13,130
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                       13,285
<CGS>                                                  11,538
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                          11,538
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                        1,291
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                           10
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                        169
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                           287
<INCOME-TAX>                                               92
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                       211
<DISCONTINUED>                                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                             0
<CHANGES>                                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                                              211
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                            2.97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                            2.82