<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-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 47,000 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 457,000 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 301,000 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 851,000 <PP&E> 2,611,000 <DEPRECIATION> 1,667,000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,152,000 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,360,000 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 81,000 <OTHER-SE> 610,000 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 3,152,000 <SALES> 1,385,000 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 1,385,000 <CGS> 852,000 <TOTAL-COSTS> 1,089,000 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 42,000 <INCOME-PRETAX> 254,000 <INCOME-TAX> 81,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 173,000 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 173,000 <EPS-PRIMARY> 1.82 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.80