<ARTICLE>                         5
<LEGEND>                          This schedule contains summary financial
                                  information extracted from Form 10-Q for the
                                  period ended September 30, 1998 and is
                                  qualified in its entirety by reference to such
                                  financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                             0000929697
<NAME>                            THE GENERAL CHEMICAL GROUP INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                      1,000
       
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                     9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                 DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                    JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                      SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                 47,444
<SECURITIES>                                0
<RECEIVABLES>                         131,426
<ALLOWANCES>                            5,476
<INVENTORY>                            58,775
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                      249,399
<PP&E>                                572,290
<DEPRECIATION>                        227,419
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                        691,879
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                 192,199
<BONDS>                               304,044
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                       0
<PREFERRED>                                 0
<COMMON>                                  223
<OTHER-SE>                            (68,128)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>          691,879
<SALES>                               525,030
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                      525,030
<CGS>                                 383,558
<TOTAL-COSTS>                         383,558
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                            0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                     19,426
<INCOME-PRETAX>                        58,989
<INCOME-TAX>                           22,676
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                    36,313
<DISCONTINUED>                              0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                         3,661
<CHANGES>                                   0
<NET-INCOME>                           32,652
<EPS-PRIMARY>                            1.55
<EPS-DILUTED>                            1.49