<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Silgan
Holdings  Inc. Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000                               
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                              11,394
<SECURITIES>                                             0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      147,708
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                        307,826
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   477,278
<PP&E>                                             525,804
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,132,902    
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              329,063
<BONDS>                                            808,799
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               189
<OTHER-SE>                                         (85,060)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,132,905  
<SALES>                                            657,011
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   657,011
<CGS>                                              557,330
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      557,330
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    22,522 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  41,104
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                      6,827
<INCOME-TAX>                                       (18,250)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 25,077
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     (9,024)
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        12,829
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0.65
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0.65