<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> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <CASH> 65,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 733,000 <ALLOWANCES> 13,000 <INVENTORY> 372,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,301,000 <PP&E> 2,970,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,667,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,773,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,416,000 <BONDS> 1,882,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 992,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 83,000 <OTHER-SE> 726,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,773,000 <SALES> 1,620,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,620,000 <CGS> 912,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,418,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 46,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 74,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 81,000 <INCOME-TAX> 29,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 52,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 52,000 <EPS-BASIC> 0.49 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.49