<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-12-003247.txt : 20120207
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-12-003247.hdr.sgml : 20120207
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120207195621
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-12-003247
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120207
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120207

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Colyer John M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001426457

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00516
		FILM NUMBER:		12579474

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
		STREET 2:		1 NORTH SECOND STREET
		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:		ONE NORTH SECOND ST
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 160
		CITY:			HARTSVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29551-0160
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8433837000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE N. SECOND STREET
		CITY:			HARTSVILLE
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29550
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-02-06</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001426457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Colyer John M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE NORTH SECOND ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 160</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HARTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29551-0160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>VP Global Industrial Convert</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3333.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7828.1447</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>540.0000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8368.1447</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>181.0000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.3600</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8187.1447</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1115.0000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.3600</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7072.1447</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>540.0000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>540.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>649.8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.0000</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-02-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3333.0000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0000</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-02-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3333.0000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3334.0000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of Dividend Equivalents on Restricted Stock Unit is the equivalent of one share of Sonoco Products Company common stock. The shares were cashed out to account for withholding taxes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each share of Restricted Stock Unit is the equivalent of one share of Sonoco Products Company common stock.  The shares were cashed out to account for withholding taxes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Conversion of dividend equivalents on Restricted Stock Units to non-derivative security.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The dividend equivalent rights become exercisable appropriately with the options to which it is related.  Each dividend equivalent right is the economic equivalent of one share of Sonoco Products Company common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Vesting of Restricted Stock Units (conversion of derivative security) and subsequent issuance of shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">2/6/2018</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Elizabeth R. Kremer - Power of Attorney for John M. Jr. Colyer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-02-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
