<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-13-012027.txt : 20130326
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-13-012027.hdr.sgml : 20130326
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130326171045
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-13-012027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130322
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130326
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130326

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Gary Jesse E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001568817

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34474
		FILM NUMBER:		13717578

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2511 GARDEN ROAD
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 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>2013-03-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001568817</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gary Jesse E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2511 GARDEN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING A, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTEREY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93940</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Gen. Counsel &amp; Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-03-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1286</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28638</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reports shares withheld by the Issuer in connection with the vesting of performance share units granted to the Reporting Person pursuant to the Issuer's 2011-2014 Performance Share Program to satisfy tax obligations at a net settlement price equal to the closing price on Nasdaq on March 22, 2013, the vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 3,000 remaining vested performance share units granted to the Reporting Person pursuant to the Issuer's 2011-2014 Performance Share Program which will settle on March 22, 2014, and unvested performance share units granted to the Reporting Person pursuant to the Issuer's 2012-2015 and 2013-2015 Performance Share Programs, of which 2,500 will vest on each of April 16, 2014 and April 16, 2015, and 15,029 of which will vest on December 31, 2015, respectively, all under a Rule 16b-3(d) plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael A. Serafini, Attorney-in-Fact for Jesse E. Gary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
