<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>