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<REPORTING-OWNER>
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<CONFORMED-NAME>BUSSE KEITH E
<CIK>0001195948
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<FILM-NUMBER>03716970
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<STREET1>6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
<CITY>FORT WAYNE
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
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<ISSUER>
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<CONFORMED-NAME>STEEL DYNAMICS INC
<CIK>0001022671
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3312
<IRS-NUMBER>351929476
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IN
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<STREET1>7030 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
<STREET2>SUITE 310
<CITY>FORT WAYNE
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
<PHONE>2194593553
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<STREET1>7030 POINTE INVERNERSS WAY
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<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEEL DYNAMICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STLD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195948</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUSSE KEITH E</rptOwnerName>
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        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
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<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.76</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6270</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-11-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-05-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>6270</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6270</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Steel Dynamics, Inc. 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan approved by stockholders and exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to Rule 16b-3 thereunder.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Keith E. Busse</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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