-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 EOqBnUzLja1QE5VQf7Z39w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000091767-04-000204.txt : 20041020
<SEC-HEADER>0000091767-04-000204.hdr.sgml : 20041020
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041020175244
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000091767-04-000204
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041018
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041020
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041020

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Linville John E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001306301

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00516
		FILM NUMBER:		041088191

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		843-383-7000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
		STREET 2:		1 N. 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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001306301</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Linville John E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE NORTH SECOND STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29550</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>265249</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>424000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Family Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7002</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Mother</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4471</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24890</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust for Son  1</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27853</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by Trust for Son 2</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are indirectly owned by the reporting person pursuant to power of attorney for his mother.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit List
  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: George S. Hartley - Power of Attorney  For: John E. Linville</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>linvillepow.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EDGAR SUPPORTING DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
Exhibit 24


SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY


	Know all men by these presents, that the undersigned
director or officer, or both, of Sonoco Products Company
constitutes and appoints Charles J. Hupfer, Vicki B. Arthur and
George S. Hartley, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
and each of them with full power to act without the other for
him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities, to execute and file, or cause to be filed, with
the Securities and Exchange Commission Forms 3, 4 and 5 pursuant
to Section 16 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, (the "Act") and any amendment to the foregoing, on his
or her behalf, or on behalf of any trust or other entity that is
required by the rules under Section 16 of the Act, to file
reports under Section 16 because of the fact that said director
or officer is a trustee, fiduciary or otherwise, granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to
do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.  The authority
granted by this Special Power of Attorney shall remain in effect
as long as the undersigned is required to file Forms 4 and 5
under the reporting requirements of Section 16.  The undersigned
acknowledges that no attorney-in-fact of the undersigned
pursuant to this Special Power of Attorney, by serving in such
capacity, is assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities
to comply with Section 16 of the Act.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this
Special Power of Attorney this 18th, day of October, 2004.


S/ John E. Linville
John E. Linville

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