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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 bueTy6SzzhdZp7tAwcGZIw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000202890-04-000011.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0000202890-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102163530
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000202890-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALKCOM JOHN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001273401

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07170
		FILM NUMBER:		04501528

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 M P'CONNOR BLVD., STE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMCO RECYCLING INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000202890
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SECONDARY SMELTING & REFINING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3341]
		IRS NUMBER:				752008280
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 N OCONNOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9724017200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5215 N OCONNOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FRONTIER TEXAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19881012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PIONEER TEXAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850416
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001273401d20040102f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000202890</issuerCik><issuerName>IMCO RECYCLING INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>IMR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001273401</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BALKCOM JOHN E</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>5215 NORTH O'CONNOR BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>IRVING</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>75039-</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativ
eTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>303</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>9.89</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>303</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivati
veTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Award of stock as a portion of Director's fees payment pursuant to IMCO Recycling Inc. Annual Incentive Program in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey S. Mecom, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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