-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RNwtT9WBouovqFnvG/32aVap5UgWUpGzm5MPYiCuuTp1ITTzjINMaXCOT/B332EJ
 hzwPz6ko3VxewnmKrnFLGA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000820626-04-000019.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000820626-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106164256
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000820626-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUALLS ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001190483

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09759
		FILM NUMBER:		04510676

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 S SAUNDERS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8477391415

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IMC GLOBAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000820626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS [2870]
		IRS NUMBER:				363492467
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 S. SAUNDERS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		847-739-1200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 S. SAUNDERS ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 300
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	IMC FERTILIZER GROUP INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000820626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IMC GLOBAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IGL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190483</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>QUALLS ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 S. SAUNDERS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAKE FOREST</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60045</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Cmm Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>10500.000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>10500.000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Cmmn Stck, $1.00 par value</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>357.000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>10.19</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2643.000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
   <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Non-qualified stock option (right to purchase)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
          <value>10.19</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2004-01-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>35000.0000</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>0.00</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
              <footnoteId id="F3" />
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
          <value>2014-01-02</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
          <underlyingSecurityTitle>
              <value>Common Stock, $1.00 par value</value>
          </underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <underlyingSecurityShares>
              <value>35000.0000</value>
          </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>35000.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Grant of 10,500 shares of restricted common stock which shall be attainable on January 2, 2007.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Grant of 3,000 shares of restricted common stock of which one-third of these shares has vested and two-thirds shall be attainable
 on each of January 2, 2005 and January 2, 2006.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F3">One-third of these options will become exercisable on each of January 2, 2005, January 2, 2006 and January 2, 2007.</footnote>
</footnotes>
<remarks></remarks>    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Robert M. Qualls</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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