8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): September 12, 2003

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) 0-6354 Commission File Number 95-2588080 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

4695 MacArthur Court

Newport Beach, California 92660

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number: (949) 260-1200

Item 5. Other Events.

On September 12, 2003, American Vanguard Corporation issued the press release announcing that it’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.05 per share to be distributed on October 17, 2003 to shareholders of record as of October 3, 2003. The press release is attached as Exhibit 99.3.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

AMERICAN VANGUARD CORPORATION (Registrant)
By:	/s/    JAMES A. BARRY
	James A. Barry Senior Vice President Chief Financial Officer

Date: September 12, 2003

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99.3	Press release

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EX-99.3

Exhibit 99.3

[LOGO]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICAN VANGUARD DECLARES $.05 SEMIANNUAL CASH DIVIDEND BRINGING TOTAL DIVIDENDS FOR 2003 TO $.137, AN INCREASE OF 33% OVER 2002 DIVIDENDS ₍₁₎

Newport Beach, CA – September 12, 2003 – American Vanguard Corp. (AMEX:AVD) today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $.05 per share. The dividend will be distributed on October 17, 2003 to shareholders of record as of October 3, 2003.

Eric Wintemute, President and CEO of American Vanguard, stated, “This dividend illustrates our Board of Directors’ positive outlook for American Vanguard, based on the Company’s solid fundamentals, strong first-half results and prospects for continued growth. As indicated in the table below, American Vanguard has a track record of sharing its profit growth with shareholders, many of whom have benefitted further from the stock dividends/splits over the past few years.”

Five-year Historical Cash Dividends

Distribution Date	Cash Dividend (as adjusted (1))
04/11/03	$	.087
10/18/02	$	.033
04/12/02	$	.070
10/19/01	$	.030
04/13/01	$	.050
10/20/00	$	.023
04/14/00	$	.054
04/19/99	$	.025

(1) As adjusted for stock dividends and splits.

About American Vanguard

American Vanguard Corporation is a diversified specialty and agricultural products company that develops and markets crop protection and management, turf management and public health insecticides. The Company’s basic strategy is to acquire brand name, niche product lines from multi-billion dollar companies that divest mature products to focus on newly discovered molecules. During 2003, American Vanguard was recognized as one of Business Week’s Hot Growth Companies (#94) and Fortune Small Business’ 100Fastest Growing Small Companies (#35). To learn more about American Vanguard, please reference the Company’s web site at www.american-vanguard.com

The Company, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are estimates by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include weather conditions, changes in regulatory policy and other risks as detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s SEC reports and filings.

All forward-looking statements, if any, in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intent or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

CONTACT:	-OR-	AVD’S INVESTOR RELATIONS FIRM
American Vanguard Corporation		The Equity Group Inc.
Eric G. Wintemute, President & CEO		www.theequitygroup.com
James A. Barry, Senior Vice President & CFO		Lauren Barbera
(949) 260-1200		lbarbera@equityny.com
		(212) 836-9610
		Loren G. Mortman
		(212) 836-9604

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