<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-13</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000842295</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOR MINERALS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TORM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001266658</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAAS LAWRENCE WOODS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P O BOX 2544</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORPUS CHRISTI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78403</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO and Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-10-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Option Right to Buy</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options are subject to five year vesting exercisable at 20,000 increments for the years 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 under the 2000 Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth Morgan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

