<ARTICLE> 5
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                          66,200
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                  616,000<F1>
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                    370,000
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             1,221,500<F2>
<PP&E>                                       3,261,100
<DEPRECIATION>                               1,489,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,200,000<F2>
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                        1,049,500
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                           800
<OTHER-SE>                                     479,200
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 4,200,000
<SALES>                                      2,460,700
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                             2,497,200
<CGS>                                        1,492,400
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                1,492,400
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              58,600
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                356,600<F3>
<INCOME-TAX>                                   134,100
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            222,500<F3>
<DISCONTINUED>                                  12,400<F4>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                   234,900
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.08
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.07
        
<FN>
<F1>  Amount shown is net of allowances.

<F2>  Included within current assets and total assets are
      net assets of discontinued operations of $26,800.

<F3>  Includes a pretax gain of $103,100 ($63,000 after-tax)
      on the sale of Grace's specialty polymers business and
      a pretax provision of $12,400 ($8,000 after-tax) relating
      to restructuring costs.

<F4>  Represents a $19,000 ($12,400 after-tax) reversal of
      previously recorded provisions for Grace's cocoa business.

</FN>