<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM
THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BANTA CORPORATION AS OF AND
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JULY 3, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-03-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUL-03-1999
<CASH>                                         0
<SECURITIES>                                   19,747
<RECEIVABLES>                                  210,273
<ALLOWANCES>                                   4,189
<INVENTORY>                                    78,179
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               323,834
<PP&E>                                         783,451
<DEPRECIATION>                                 470,857
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 718,116
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                          190,640
<BONDS>                                        117,123
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          0
<PREFERRED>                                    0
<COMMON>                                       2,717
<OTHER-SE>                                     356,836
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   718,116
<SALES>                                        608,366
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               608,366
<CGS>                                          484,986
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  484,986
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               136,343
<LOSS-PROVISION>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             5,799
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (19,515)
<INCOME-TAX>                                   (2,500)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (17,015)
<DISCONTINUED>                                 0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                0
<CHANGES>                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (17,015)
<EPS-BASIC>                                  (0.61)<F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                  (0.61)
<FN>
THE EPS UNDER THE "EPS-PRIMARY" TAG REPRESENTS BASIC EARNINGS
PER SHARE
</FN>