<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Silgan
Holdings Inc.  Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the nine months ended September
30,  2000  and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to the  financial
statements therein.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-2000
<CASH>                                             3,514
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    332,475
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0
<INVENTORY>                                      249,797
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 594,727
<PP&E>                                           641,222
<DEPRECIATION>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,379,261
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            472,565
<BONDS>                                          843,452
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             204
<OTHER-SE>                                       (20,886)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,379,261
<SALES>                                        1,395,527
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,395,527
<CGS>                                          1,219,658
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,219,658
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                66,097
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   55,687
<INCOME-TAX>                                      21,719
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               33,968
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      30,020
<EPS-BASIC>                                         1.70
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.67