<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE 
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BANTA CORPORATION AS OF AND FOR 
THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JULY 4, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JAN-02-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-04-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-04-1998
<CASH>                                           5,829
<SECURITIES>                                    13,219
<RECEIVABLES>                                  200,796
<ALLOWANCES>                                     3,561
<INVENTORY>                                     84,842
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               328,481
<PP&E>                                         744,128
<DEPRECIATION>                                 409,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 743,562
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          163,554
<BONDS>                                        123,952
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         2,947
<OTHER-SE>                                     417,014
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   743,562
<SALES>                                        646,810
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               646,810
<CGS>                                          515,871
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  515,871
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                84,541
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               5,687
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 39,926
<INCOME-TAX>                                    15,500
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             24,426
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    26,426
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.82<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.82
<FN>
<F1>THE EPS UNDER THE "EPS-PRIMARY" TAG REPRESENTS BASIC
EARNINGS PER SHARE
</FN>