<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM HERCULES INCORPORATED'S CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <CASH> 85,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 731,000 <ALLOWANCES> 15,000 <INVENTORY> 389,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,330,000 <PP&E> 2,970,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,666,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,851,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,392,000 <BONDS> 1,898,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 992,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 83,000 <OTHER-SE> 867,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,851,000 <SALES> 785,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 785,000 <CGS> 437,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 679,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 23,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 32,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 56,000 <INCOME-TAX> 20,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 36,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 36,000 <EPS-BASIC> 0.34 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.34