<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-026808.txt : 20120921
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-026808.hdr.sgml : 20120921
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120921134257
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-026808
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120919
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120921
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120921

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Berntzen Jarl
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001355035

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34474
		FILM NUMBER:		121103845

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CENTURY ALUMINUM COMPANY
		STREET 2:		2511 GARDEN ROAD, BLDG A, SUITE 200
		CITY:			MONTEREY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93940

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURY ALUMINUM CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949157
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PRIMARY PRODUCTION OF ALUMINUM [3334]
		IRS NUMBER:				133070826
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2511 GARDEN ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING A SUITE 200
		CITY:			MONTEREY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93940
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3042736000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2511 GARDEN ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING A SUITE 200
		CITY:			MONTEREY
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93940
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-09-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000949157</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURY ALUMINUM CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CENX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001355035</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Berntzen Jarl</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CENTURY ALUMINUM COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2511 GARDEN ROAD, BLDG A, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEREY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93940</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-09-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11078</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37255</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Annual grant of service based performance shares made to continuing directors on September 19, 2012, (the &quot;Grant Date&quot;) pursuant to a Rule 16b-3(d) plan, all of which vests on the one year anniversary of the Grant Date or upon the earlier occurence of certain other events.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jesse E. Gary, Attorney-in-Fact for Jarl Berntzen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
