-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HhhZLrKAcTTcBxoYrM3LyDrISIxNJiJZbCyLKOtU6RWThYbsBuH0AjH5k6ZuxZHd
 pavh8bBT1vMdG9OptFWI4g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000859163-04-000140.txt : 20040916
<SEC-HEADER>0000859163-04-000140.hdr.sgml : 20040916
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040916151456
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000859163-04-000140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040916
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040916

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACKSON C MARSHALL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197144

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07201
		FILM NUMBER:		041033677

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		801 17TH AVENUE S
		CITY:			MYRTLE BEACH
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29577
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8434489411

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AVX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000859163
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES [3670]
		IRS NUMBER:				330379007
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		801 17TH AVE S
		CITY:			MYRTLE BEACH
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29577
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8034499411

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		801 17TH AVE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 867
		CITY:			MYRTLE BEACH
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29577

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KC SUBSIDIARY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900212
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000859163</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197144</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JACKSON C MARSHALL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>801 17TH AVENUE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MYRTLE BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29577</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP of Sales and</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>76</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14567</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kurt P. Cummings, Attorney in fact For: C. Marshall Jackson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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