-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SZ16CL3fWcT2vyh+UDXWe5kuEG0+iUPddZCCifJ37uKxYlZt7NkNnN/VLvnReO/v
 LhBbsx6Mx8tDBnZ+wAAnEA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001195952-03-000012.txt : 20031112
<SEC-HEADER>0001195952-03-000012.hdr.sgml : 20031111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031112095202
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001195952-03-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHELLABARGER TRACY L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195952

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21719
		FILM NUMBER:		03991126

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46804

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEEL DYNAMICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022671
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES  ROLLING MILLS (COKE OVENS) [3312]
		IRS NUMBER:				351929476
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46804
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2604593553

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			FORT WAYNE
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46804
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-10</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEEL DYNAMICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STLD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195952</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHELLABARGER TRACY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11125 SPRING POND COVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WAYNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46845</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4445</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>13.50</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>173141</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndire
ctOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-11-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4445</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>18.81</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>168696</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><valu
e>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>77500</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Estate</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4800</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Custodian</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.50</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-10</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4445</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-05-21</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-11-21</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4445</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></direc
tOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition of stock pursuant to employee stock option plan exempt under Rule 16b-6(b).</footnote><footnote id="F2">Grant exempt under Rule 16b-3(d)(2).  Exercise exempt under Rule 16b-6.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Disposition of option exempt under Rule 16-b3(e).</footnote><footnote id="F4">Held in deceased spouse's estate, over which reporting person has voting and investment power as personal representative.  Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Held by reporting person as custodian for the benefit of reporting person's minor children.  Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Tracy L. Shellabarger</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----