<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>

THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
8/31/2000 AGRIBRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC. BALANCE SHEET AND STATEMENT OF EARNINGS
AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                        1000

                                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                       12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                   AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-END>                        AUG-31-2000
<CASH>                              174,600
<SECURITIES>                              0
<RECEIVABLES>                        87,500
<ALLOWANCES>                         12,100
<INVENTORY>                          96,600
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                    353,700
<PP&E>                              351,700
<DEPRECIATION>                      183,300
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                      581,600
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>               148,700
<BONDS>                              10,700
<COMMON>                                100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                     0
<PREFERRED>                               0
<OTHER-SE>                          393,400
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>        581,600
<SALES>                           1,193,100
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                  1,193,100
<CGS>                               996,000
<TOTAL-COSTS>                       996,000
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                    125,900
<LOSS-PROVISION>                      1,300
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                    3,000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                      66,900
<INCOME-TAX>                         21,900
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                  45,000
<DISCONTINUED>                            0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                           0
<CHANGES>                                 0
<NET-INCOME>                         45,000
<EPS-BASIC>                            4.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                          4.33