<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> HERCULES INCORPORATED 10Q98 </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <CASH> 32,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 420,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 267,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 768,000 <PP&E> 2,160,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,435,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,650,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,034,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 81,000 <OTHER-SE> 567,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,650,000 <SALES> 875,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 875,000 <CGS> 529,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 680,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 153,000 <INCOME-TAX> 51,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 102,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 102,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.06