<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