-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WkWZNE8rvKYvaYASsOY264NTi49v3MfEeQXkI5wtjQvgdRfO9PnMAl0KxNq1UJ3A
 EbUerUAURmKo6EszPmD8ag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000893877-03-000225.txt : 20031009
<SEC-HEADER>0000893877-03-000225.hdr.sgml : 20031009
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031009132729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000893877-03-000225
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031007
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031009

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHNITZER GARY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001249516

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22496
		FILM NUMBER:		03934707

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 NW YEON AVENUE
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032249900

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000912603
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MISC DURABLE GOODS [5090]
		IRS NUMBER:				930341923
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3200 NW YEON AVE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 10047
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97210-0047
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5032249900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 10047
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97210
</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>2003-10-07</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000912603</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHNITZER STEEL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCHN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249516</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHNITZER GARY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3200 NW YEON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97210</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Ex. VP - CA Scrap Operations</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9448</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>8.875</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12048</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnershi
p><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10552</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.00</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22600</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><va
lue>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>36.13</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2600</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.875</value></conversionOrEx
ercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9448</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-09-24</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9448</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37792</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndir
ectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>10552</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2005-06-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>10552</value></underlyingSecurityShares></un
derlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17062</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15862</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15862</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value
>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Voting Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>109000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>109000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Voting Trust</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote
 id="F1">The option was granted for 47,240 shares on 9/24/02 and becomes exercisable for 20% of the shares on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F2">All amounts set forth on this Form 4 give effect to a 2-for-1 stock split effected on August 14, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The option was granted for 27,614 shares on 6/1/95 and became exercisable for 20% of the shares on each of the first five anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Class B Common Stock is immediately convertible on a one-for-one basis into Class A Common Stock and has no expiration date.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Shares are held by Gary Schnitzer, Trustee for Gary Schnitzer et al. under Trust Agreement dated January 30, 1970.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Charles A. Ford, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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