<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD
QUARTER 1998 10-Q OF INTERNATIONAL  SPECIALTY  PRODUCTS INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>  0001026738                       
<NAME>  INTERNATIONAL SPECIALTY PRODUCTS INC.                       
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                                 JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-27-1998
<CASH>                                              37,948
<SECURITIES>                                       274,684
<RECEIVABLES>                                      115,584
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                        137,437
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   661,835
<PP&E>                                             599,310
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,833,784
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              276,087
<BONDS>                                            859,068
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0 
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                               695
<OTHER-SE>                                         558,582
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,833,784
<SALES>                                            627,411
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                   627,411
<CGS>                                              364,530
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      364,530
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                         0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  55,877
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     88,332
<INCOME-TAX>                                        33,036
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 45,017
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                        45,017
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                          .77
<EPS-DILUTED>                                          .77