<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Silgan
Holdings Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31,
2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the  financial  statements
therein.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                                             5,681
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    153,974
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0
<INVENTORY>                                      296,005
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 465,383
<PP&E>                                           640,041
<DEPRECIATION>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,260,042
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            372,893
<BONDS>                                          843,866
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             202
<OTHER-SE>                                       (43,747)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,260,042
<SALES>                                          410,657
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 410,657
<CGS>                                            361,939
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    361,939
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                20,981
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    8,674
<INCOME-TAX>                                       3,383
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                5,291
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                       5,291
<EPS-BASIC>                                         0.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0.29