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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VRSWZEymwDM+zTu7gLCZAd3pZQhZdGuKSgEYJ50HIfKIaS8m+iayVGuLPXbjLbRc
 05yP7nJBCBRonUXIjSy7cA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897101-03-001164.txt : 20030925
<SEC-HEADER>0000897101-03-001164.hdr.sgml : 20030925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030925143619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897101-03-001164
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030922
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MENG TAO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260413

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11038
		FILM NUMBER:		03909841

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHINA NATIONAL CONTAINER CORP
		STREET 2:		23B SECOND DISTRICT
		CITY:			XICHENG DISTRICT BEIJING
		STATE:			F4
		ZIP:			999999999

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875582
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CONVERTED PAPER & PAPERBOARD PRODS (NO CONTAINERS/BOXES) [2670]
		IRS NUMBER:				410857886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6680 N HIGHWAY 49
		CITY:			LINO LAKES
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6127841250

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHERN INSTRUMENTS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nti034094meng_4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!-- - EDGAR Ease Plus 1.0                                   07/25/03  TT    -->
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
   <periodOfReport>2003-09-22</periodOfReport>
   <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875582</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
   </issuer>
   <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MENG TAO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NO. 23B SECOND DISTRICT SAN LI HE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>XICHENG DISTRICT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEIJING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>F4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>100045</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CHINA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
         <isDirector>1</isDirector>
         <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
         <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
         <isOther>0</isOther>
      </reportingOwnerRelationship>
   </reportingOwner>
 <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
         <value>Non-Statutory Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
         <value>5.30</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
         <value>2003-09-24</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
         <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
         <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
         <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
         <transactionShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </transactionShares>
         <transactionPricePerShare>
           <value>5.30</value>
         </transactionPricePerShare>
         <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
           <value>D</value>
         </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
         <value>2004-09-02</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
         <value>2008-09-02</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
         <underlyingSecurityTitle>
           <value>Common stock</value>
         </underlyingSecurityTitle>
         <underlyingSecurityShares>
           <value>2000</value>
         </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
         <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
           <value>7000</value>
         </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
         <directOrIndirectOwnership>
           <value>D</value>
         </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
 </derivativeTable>
   <ownerSignature>
      <signatureName>Tao Meng</signatureName>
      <signatureDate>2003-09-25</signatureDate>
   </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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