<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This schedule  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted  from Silgan
Holdings  Inc.  Form 10-Q for the nine months  ended  September  30, 1998 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>                       
<MULTIPLIER>   1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS        
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                 SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                             8,135
<SECURITIES>                                           0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    294,271
<ALLOWANCES>                                           0
<INVENTORY>                                      247,384
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 558,897
<PP&E>                                           663,331
<DEPRECIATION>                                         0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 1,368,545 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            344,967
<BONDS>                                          982,097
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                  0
<PREFERRED>                                            0
<COMMON>                                             199
<OTHER-SE>                                       (42,172)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   1,368,545
<SALES>                                        1,288,289
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               1,288,289
<CGS>                                          1,116,338
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  1,116,338
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                59,985
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                   61,501
<INCOME-TAX>                                      23,096
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               38,405
<DISCONTINUED>                                         0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                        0
<CHANGES>                                              0
<NET-INCOME>                                      38,405
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       2.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       1.92