-----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,
 JbpO0Jtos+IQfX2y7/XSW+Gj/ypIwKYTgTGFtZN9mUiGkTuenWz5vyRf258Fz/6U
 93zKCZ6ogXlyKHBydkmpDA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000045876-03-000027.txt : 20030821
<SEC-HEADER>0000045876-03-000027.hdr.sgml : 20030821
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030821165223
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000045876-03-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030821
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030821

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPLAN RONALD W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201351

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03970
		FILM NUMBER:		03860539

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HARSCO CORP PO BOX 8888
		CITY:			CAMP HILL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17001-8888

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARSCO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000045876
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FABRICATED STRUCTURAL METAL PRODUCTS [3440]
		IRS NUMBER:				231483991
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 8888
		CITY:			CAMP HILL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17001-8888
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7177637064

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 8888
		CITY:			CAMP HILL
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17001-8888
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-08-21</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000045876</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201351</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPLAN RONALD W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HARSCO CORP PO BOX 8888</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMP HILL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17001-8888</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior V. P.-Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-20</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>40000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>25.63</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>45895.7766</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-20</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>40000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>38.60</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>5895.7766</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>60.9371</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>By daughter</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
    <nonDerivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>4524.8740</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>I</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <natureOfOwnership>
              <value>Savings Plan</value>
          </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeHolding>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>34.2800</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2007-01-26</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>7300.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>37.8100</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2008-01-25</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>9000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>26.6600</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2009-01-24</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>20000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>29.0000</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2010-01-23</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>20000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>25.6300</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-08-20</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>40000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
          <value>2002-01-22</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2011-01-21</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>40000.0000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>0.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeHolding>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>32.6500</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2012-01-20</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.25 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>24000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeHolding>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These shares were acquired under the Harsco Corporation Savings Plan in transactions that were exempt from Section 16(b) by virtu
e of Rule 16a-8(b).  The information presented is as of July 31, 2003.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Stock option granted pursuant to Harsco Corporation 1995 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule
 16b-3.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Mark E. Kimmel, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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