-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001195958-04-000006.txt : 20041202
<SEC-HEADER>0001195958-04-000006.hdr.sgml : 20041202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041202152112
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001195958-04-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KOLB JURGEN DR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195958

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21719
		FILM NUMBER:		041180460

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEEL DYNAMICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195958</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOLB JURGEN DR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>REIFTRAGERWEG-16</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>14129 BERLIN-ZEHLENDORF</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>Germany</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>771</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.46</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6480</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-30</value>
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            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-11-21</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Employee Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
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                <value>19.46</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-30</value>
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                    <value>771</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-21</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquisition of stock pursuant to exercise of option, granted pursuant to Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan approved by stockholders, exempt under Rule 16b-6(b).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Disposition of option exempt under Rule 16b-3(e).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dr. Jurgen Kolb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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