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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BzrA1ZlLg3kE0sEnJr8jM0UddKSJnNQdRh4mPmIvJyOnXhoo4wMlxRX737KhMnU+
 f5IrhrqN4rk0MdJP+5Mwug==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001192621-03-000003.txt : 20031028
<SEC-HEADER>0001192621-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20031028
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031028124106
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001192621-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031028

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:			KLOSK STEVEN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192621

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10638
		FILM NUMBER:		03960285

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBREX CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			EAST RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018043011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBREX CORP
		STREET 2:		ONE MEADOWLANDS PLZ
		CITY:			EAST RUTHERFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07073
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-27</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820081</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CAMBREX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLOSK STEVEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MEADOWLANDS PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST RUTHERFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07073</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>6.625</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>34603</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOf
Ownership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value><
/underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>267500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercise of option under the 1993 Sr. Executive Stock Option Plan of common stock in transaction exempt under old Rule 16b-3 which became exercisable in increments when the publicly traded share price reached a certain price.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Exercise of an option granted to the reporting person under the 1993 Sr. Executive Stock Option Plan.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Linda Kinailuk for Steven M. Klosk</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-28</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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