
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<RESTATED>
<CIK> 0001026601
<NAME> CHEMFIRST INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

<S>                             <C>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996              DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996              JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996              DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                          68,385                   44,748
<SECURITIES>                                         0                        0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   65,049                   67,128
<ALLOWANCES>                                       404                      305
<INVENTORY>                                     70,021                   68,911
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               213,837                  196,192
<PP&E>                                         293,627                  250,316
<DEPRECIATION>                                 140,545                  112,494
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 423,090                  414,335
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           83,357                   69,183
<BONDS>                                          2,122                   82,871
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                        0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                        0
<COMMON>                                        20,673                   20,585
<OTHER-SE>                                     287,813                  206,172
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   423,090                  414,335
<SALES>                                        383,637                  352,999
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                     0                        0
<CGS>                                          299,340                  271,936
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  299,340                  271,936
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                38,996                    6,913
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                 1,281                      266
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               7,735                    9,446
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (16,919)                  16,668
<INCOME-TAX>                                    (5,632)                   8,240
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (10,441)                   9,524
<DISCONTINUED>                                 260,301                   47,943
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                        0
<CHANGES>                                            0                        0
<NET-INCOME>                                   249,860                   57,467
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    12.12                     2.80
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    12.12                     2.75


</TABLE>
