UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934


       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 2, 2005

                             SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY


                            Commission File No. 0-516

Incorporated under the laws                       I.R.S. Employer Identification
     of South Carolina                                    No. 57-0248420

                             One North Second Street
                               Post Office Box 160
                      Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0160
                             Telephone: 843-383-7000


Check  the  appropriate  box  below  if the  Form  8-K  filing  is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:

[ ]  Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the  Securities Act (17
     CFR 230.425)

[ ]  Soliciting  material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
     240.14a-12)

[ ]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[ ]  Pre-commencement   communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
     Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))








Section 5 - Corporate Governance and Management

       Item 5.02  Departure of  Directors  or Principal  Officers;  Election  of
                  Directors: Appointment of Principal Officers

       On February 2, 2005,  Hugh L. McColl,  Jr., a director of the  registrant
       notified the  registrant's  board of directors  that he would retire from
       the board of directors at the end of his current term of office (the 2005
       Annual Meeting of Shareholders) and not seek reelection.





























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       SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                  SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY



Date:  February 8, 2005           By: /s/ C.J. Hupfer                           
                                  ----------------------------------------------
                                   C.J. Hupfer
                                   Vice President and Chief Financial Officer





































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