<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ChiRex Inc.'s second quarter 2000 Form 10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH Form 10-Q </LEGEND> <CIK> 0001005407 <NAME> CHIREX INC <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> US DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1.51 <CASH> 5,141 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 20,203 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 24,207 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 5,736 <PP&E> 164,671 <DEPRECIATION> 3,669 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 246,820 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 41,883 <BONDS> 31,710 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 153 <OTHER-SE> 152,164 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 246,820 <SALES> 32,544 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 32,702 <CGS> (24,038) <TOTAL-COSTS> 5,861 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (883) <INCOME-PRETAX> 1,539 <INCOME-TAX> (498) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 1,041 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 1,041 <EPS-BASIC> 0.07 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.07