<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> (Replace this text with the legend) </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000718487 <NAME> SpecTran Corporation <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 1,334 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 12,986 <ALLOWANCES> 617 <INVENTORY> 8,805 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 25,476 <PP&E> 89,180 <DEPRECIATION> 20,808 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 101,803 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 45,028 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 700 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 101,803 <SALES> 52,322 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 52,322 <CGS> 39,244 <TOTAL-COSTS> 14,255 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 938 <INCOME-PRETAX> 217 <INCOME-TAX> 231 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (14) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.00) <EPS-DILUTED> (.00)