<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Silgan
Holdings Inc.  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1999 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the consolidated financial
statements therein.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                 DEC-31-1999
<CASH>                                             2,411
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    131,086
<ALLOWANCES>                                      (2,991)
<INVENTORY>                                      249,571
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 388,941
<PP&E>                                         1,107,983
<DEPRECIATION>                                  (462,468)
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,185,285
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            306,972
<BONDS>                                          843,909
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             201
<OTHER-SE>                                       (48,935)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,185,285
<SALES>                                        1,856,789
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,856,789
<CGS>                                          1,621,405
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,621,405
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                  36,149
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                86,057
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   38,235
<INCOME-TAX>                                      14,305
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               23,930
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      23,930
<EPS-BASIC>                                         1.35
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.32