<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> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <CASH> 48,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 697,000 <ALLOWANCES> 23,000 <INVENTORY> 309,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,177,000 <PP&E> 2,541,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,424,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,430,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,462,000 <BONDS> 1,470,000 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 992,000 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 83,000 <OTHER-SE> 780,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 5,430,000 <SALES> 2,435,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,435,000 <CGS> 1,375,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,026,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 69,000 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 116,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 210,000 <INCOME-TAX> 83,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 127,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 127,000 <EPS-BASIC> 1.19 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.18