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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A7aEEMVRABmioGS2WaOHVOHyj+OK543Cr9r22fYRhKE2MotwLYjKIparsWo13YSA
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001233192-03-000001.txt : 20030529
<SEC-HEADER>0001233192-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030529
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030529154708
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001233192-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030529

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENBOW JOHN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001233192

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09533
		FILM NUMBER:		03723574

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5530 SW 69TH PL
		CITY:			MIAMI
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33155

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000789460
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PETROLEUM & PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (NO BULK STATIONS) [5172]
		IRS NUMBER:				592459427
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 S ROYAL POINCIANA BLVD
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			MIAMI SPRINGS
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3058842001

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		700 SOUTH ROYAL POINCIANA
		STREET 2:		STE 800
		CITY:			MIAMI SPRINGS
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33166

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERNATIONAL RECOVERY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-27</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000789460</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001233192</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENBOW JOHN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-27</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>22.41</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>3500</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Stock Option</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>22.41</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-27</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>3.07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-05-27</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2008-05-27</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>5000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5000</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are granted to non-employee directors, without payment therefor, as compensation for serving on the Board.  The number shown is the closing price of the stock on the date preceding the grant date, but this amount was not paid by the reporting person to the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These options are granted to non-employee directors, without payment therefor, as compensation for serving on the Board.  The number shown is the estimated value, as of the grant date, of a five-year option to purchase one share of common stock, but this amount was not paid by the reporting person to the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John R. Benbow</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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