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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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 r7eWVKbVQeRfgT7DO6SDfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000007694-04-000002.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0000007694-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102161844
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000007694-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASHLAND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007694
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160]
		IRS NUMBER:				610122250
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41012
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6068153333

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 E. RIVERCENTER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			COVINGTON
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41012

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASHLAND OIL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASHLAND OIL & REFINING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19700806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACKSON MANNIE L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001026050
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02918
		FILM NUMBER:		04501450

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE ARIZONA CENTER
		STREET 2:		400 EAST VAN BUREN STREET SUITE 300
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111-0242
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6063293333

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ALFRED P SLOAN FOUNDATION
		STREET 2:		630 FIFTH AVENUE SUITE 2550
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10111-0242
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001026050d20040102f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000007694</issuerCik><issuerName>ASHLAND INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001026050</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JACKSON MANNIE L</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS INTERNATIONAL</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>400 EAST VAN BUREN STREET, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>85004</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Restricted Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</val
ue><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>398</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>44.06</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>398</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23028</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><o
wnershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Represents shares of Restricted Common Stock acquired pursuant to Ashland's stock incentive plans as approved by the shareholders and exempt pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote><footnote id="F2">1-for-1</footnote><footnote id="F3">Common Stock Units acquired pursuant to Ashland's Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors as of 12-31-03, payable in cash or stock upon termination of service and exempt under Rule 16b-3.  (One (1) Common Stock Unit in the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors is the equivalent of one (1) share of Ashland Common Stock)</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>M. Craig Hall</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-02</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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