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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000091767-03-000020.txt : 20030611
<SEC-HEADER>0000091767-03-000020.hdr.sgml : 20030611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030611150853
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000091767-03-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030610
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030611

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COKER CHARLES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189911

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00516
		FILM NUMBER:		03740624

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
		STREET 2:		NORTH SECOND ST
		CITY:			HARTSVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29550

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SONOCO PRODUCTS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091767
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
		IRS NUMBER:				570248420
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			SC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTH SECOND ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 160
		CITY:			HARTSVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29551-0160
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8033837000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		N. SECOND STREET
		CITY:			HARTSVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29550
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091767</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SONOCO PRODUCTS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SON</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189911</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COKER CHARLES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CHAIRMAN</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Dividend Equivalent Rights</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-10</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>118.501</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>23.19</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>118.501</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3267.8191</value>
            </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Stock Units</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-10</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1068.1</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>23.19</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1068.1</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>26616.5</value>
            </valueOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired on quarterly dividend on the Sonoco Products Company excess benefit plan and are to be settled in cash upon the reporting person's retirement or other termination of service.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Acquired on quarterly dividend.  The rights become exercisable proportionately with the options to which they relate.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: GEORGE S. HARTLEY - POWER OF ATTORNEY  For: CHARLES W. COKER</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
