<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001251571-03-000001
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030812
<FILING-DATE>20031110
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>DAY JOSEPH C
<CIK>0001251571
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-19188
<FILM-NUMBER>03988710
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>15 READS WAY
<CITY>NEW CASTLE
<STATE>DE
<ZIP>19720
<PHONE>3023265561
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC /DE
<CIK>0000874389
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3081
<IRS-NUMBER>510295865
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0930
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 CENTENNIAL DRIVE
<CITY>PEABODY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01960
<PHONE>9785381500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3 CENTENNIAL DR
<CITY>PEABODY
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01960
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-08-12</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874389</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLIED EXTRUSION TECHNOLOGIES INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AETC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251571</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAY JOSEPH C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J. Goggin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
