<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET OF
CORN PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AT DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND THE CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENT OF INCOME FOR THE TWELVE-MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                              36
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      224
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                        175
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   465
<PP&E>                                           2,653
<DEPRECIATION>                                   1,355
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   1,946
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                              405
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                             1
<OTHER-SE>                                       1,066
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     1,946
<SALES>                                          1,448
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0
<CGS>                                            1,277
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,364
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  13
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                     71
<INCOME-TAX>                                        25
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 43
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                        43
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.19