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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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 mdoAtCtujAn20XX5nRDZ4A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192128-03-000002.txt : 20030527
<SEC-HEADER>0001192128-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030526
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030527114422
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192128-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CAMBREX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820081
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				222476135
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			E RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018043000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLAZA
		CITY:			E. RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BESHAR LUKE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192128

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10638
		FILM NUMBER:		03719355

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DONDRITE INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		200 SOMERSET CORP BLVD
		CITY:			BRIDGEWATER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08807
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9085415872

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DONDRITE INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		200 SOMERSET CORP BLVD
		CITY:			BRIDGEWATER
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08807
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-22</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820081</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAMBREX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192128</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BESHAR LUKE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. Vice President &amp;amp; CFO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnershi
p></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.425</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-22</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-22</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-22</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>50000</value></underl
yingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>292500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">First one-quarter of said grant to become exercisable in whole or in part one year from the date of grant, with a further one quarter of each such grant becoming exercisable in whole or in part on each of the next three anniversaries of such grant date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Linda Kinailuk for Luke M. Beshar by POA</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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