<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000007694-03-000129
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030903
<FILING-DATE>20030905
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LACY J DANIEL
<CIK>0001077478
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-02918
<FILM-NUMBER>03883369
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E RIVERCENTER BLVD
<STREET2>POST OFFICE BOX 391
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012-0391
<PHONE>6063293333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>P O BOX 391
<CITY>ASHLAND
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41101
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND INC
<CIK>0000007694
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5160
<IRS-NUMBER>610122250
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>KY
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
<PHONE>6068153333
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
<CITY>COVINGTON
<STATE>KY
<ZIP>41012
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL INC
<DATE-CHANGED>19920703
</FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
<DATE-CHANGED>19700806
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>COVINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>41012-0391</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5829</value><footnoteId 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buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>39</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-09-19</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-10-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>48</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-09-17</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-10-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>8000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>53.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-09-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-10-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>574</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>574</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares accrued under Ashland's Employee Stock Ownership Plan as of 8-31-03.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Intraplan transfer in Ashland's Employee Savings Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Based on Employee Savings Plan information as of 9-3-03, the latest date for which the information is reasonably available.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's Amended and Restated Incentive Plan  which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's 1997 Stock Incentive Plan which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F6">Employee stock option (represents a right to buy Ashland Common Stock) granted pursuant to Ashland's 1993 Stock Incentive Plan  which vests in three annual installments: 50% after the 1st year, the next 25% the 2nd year and the remaining 25% the 3rd year.  The employee stock option includes a tax withholding feature pursuant to the plan.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan as of 8-31-03, and exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the 1995 Deferred Compensation Plan is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Linda L. Foss</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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