-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PHlUKrvhpvwJ1KsKiKkyZRXo+Dv1JA1j8NA/n6TNBNao/ZmXvMHBbSkPP7kuv8YF
 SEjVrMcFWvo3uozQGrs6sQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000897101-04-001742.txt : 20040901
<SEC-HEADER>0000897101-04-001742.hdr.sgml : 20040901
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040901144959
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000897101-04-001742
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040901
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040901

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875582
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CONVERTED PAPER & PAPERBOARD PRODS (NO CONTAINERS/BOXES) [2670]
		IRS NUMBER:				410857886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6680 N HIGHWAY 49
		CITY:			LINO LAKES
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55014
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6127841250

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NORTHERN INSTRUMENTS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHENU PIERRE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258553

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11038
		FILM NUMBER:		041010833

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		118B AVENUE W CHURCHILL
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 15
		CITY:			BRUSSELS
		STATE:			C9
		ZIP:			1180
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011 32 2 344 4998

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		118B AVENUE W CHURCHILL
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 15
		CITY:			BRUSSELS
		STATE:			C9
		ZIP:			1180
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nti044143chenu_4ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875582</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NORTHERN TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258553</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHENU PIERRE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>118B AVENUE W CHURCHILL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 15</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BRUSSELS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>C9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>1180</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BELGIUM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Statutory Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pierre Chenu</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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