<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
Hercules Incorporated 3Q96 10-Q
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                          27,430
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  413,985
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    293,810
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               795,419
<PP&E>                                       2,376,100
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,507,293
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,354,191
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          797,894
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                        79,293
<OTHER-SE>                                     826,303
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 2,354,191
<SALES>                                      1,565,569
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             1,565,569
<CGS>                                        1,006,247
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,223,715
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              25,665
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                376,261
<INCOME-TAX>                                   127,025
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            249,236
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   249,236
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.31
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0