-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Olj/BR4q9b7NW/bL8jL/QtJKed9YuAHC4kHXpT4+gpqWMcv7K/ykm29tFPT56b5A
 2BMcP2BACRRTal2MhHSIEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914190-03-000189.txt : 20031204
<SEC-HEADER>0000914190-03-000189.hdr.sgml : 20031204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031204164339
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914190-03-000189
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STURGEON ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205678

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21528
		FILM NUMBER:		031038335

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1037 FLEETWOOD
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95120

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900708
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC [5065]
		IRS NUMBER:				943057566
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1941 RINGWOOD AVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131-1721
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084519400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1941 RINOWOOD AVENUE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131-1721
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-03</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000900708</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BELM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205678</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STURGEON ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1941 RINGWOOD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95131</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
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ansaction><value>31263</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.8333</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2004-08-05</value></expirationDate><unde
rlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>28763</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Original option (46,263 shares) exercisable: 12,513 shares on 8/5/00, 11,250 on 8/5/01, 8/5/02 and 8/5/03.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Sturgeon</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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