UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  SCHEDULE 13D

                    Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                               


                             SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
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                                (Name of Issuer)

                                  Common Stock
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                         (Title of Class of Securities)

                                    835495102
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                                 (CUSIP Number)

                                            with a copy to:
Alexander J. Roepers                        Allen B. Levithan
Atlantic Investment Management, Inc.        LOWENSTEIN SANDLER PC
666 Fifth Avenue                            65 Livingston Avenue
New York, New York  10103                   Roseland, New Jersey  07068
(212) 484-5050                              (973) 597-2500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  (Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person
                Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

                                 August 12, 2005
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)


If the filing person has previously  filed a statement on Schedule l3G to report
the  acquisition  which is the subject of this  Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), (f) or (g), check the following box [ ].

Note:  Schedules  filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the  schedule,  including  all  exhibits.  See Rule l3d-7(b) for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.

*The  remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting  person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for  any  subsequent   amendment   containing   information  which  would  alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934 ("Act") or otherwise  subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but  shall be  subject  to all other  provisions  of the Act  (however,  see the
Notes).





     CUSIP NO.   835495102
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1)   Names of Reporting  Persons.  I.R.S.  Identification  Nos. of Above Persons
     (entities only):

                  Atlantic Investment Management, Inc.
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2)   Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group (See Instructions):

            (a)              (b)        

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3)   SEC Use Only

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4)   Source of Funds (See Instructions):   AF, OO

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5)   Check if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d)
     or 2(e):
                    Not Applicable
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6)   Citizenship or Place of Organization:   Delaware

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     Number of                          7)  Sole Voting Power:        5,540,200*
                                        ----------------------------------------
     Shares Beneficially                8)  Shared Voting Power:              0
                                        ----------------------------------------
     Owned by
     Each Reporting                     9)  Sole Dispositive Power:   5,540,200*
                                        ----------------------------------------
     Person With:                      10)  Shared Dispositive Power:         0
                                        ----------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11)  Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person:
                    5,540,200*
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12)  Check  if  the  Aggregate  Amount in  Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares (See
     Instructions):
                      Not Applicable
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13)  Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11):      5.6%*
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14)  Type of Reporting Person (See Instructions):  IA

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* Includes:  (i) 1,350,647  shares (1.4%) of the Issuer's  common stock,  no par
value ("Shares"),  beneficially owned by AJR International  Master Fund, Ltd., a
British Virgin Islands company, (ii) 682,412 Shares (0.7%) beneficially owned by
Quest Capital Partners,  L.P., a Delaware limited  partnership,  (iii) 1,611,430
Shares (1.6%) beneficially owned by Cambrian Master Fund, Ltd., a British Virgin
Islands  company,  (iv) 653,420  Shares  (0.7%)  beneficially  owned by Cambrian
Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership, (v) 1,236,391 Shares (1.2%) held
in several  Managed  Accounts  (the  "Managed  Accounts")  and (vi) 3,000 Shares
(0.003%)   beneficially  owned  by  Atlantic   Investment   Management,   Inc.'s
401k/Profit  Sharing  Plan.  In  addition,  the  sole  shareholder  of  Atlantic
Investment Management,  Inc. (the "Reporting Person"), Mr. Alexander J. Roepers,
may be deemed to beneficially own 2,900 Shares (0.003%).  The Reporting  Person,
serving as the  investment  advisor of the  foregoing  parties  and the  Managed
Accounts,  has sole voting and  dispositive  power over all Shares  beneficially
owned by such  parties or held in the  Managed  Accounts.  See Items 2 and 5 for
additional details.




Item 1.  Security and Issuer

          This  statement  relates  to  the  common  stock,  no par  value  (the
"Shares"),  of Sonoco Products Company (the "Issuer").  The Issuer has principal
executive  offices  located at 1 N. Second  Street,  Hartsville,  South Carolina
29550.



Item 2.   Identity and Background
          -----------------------

          (a) This statement is filed by Atlantic Investment Management, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Reporting Person"),  with respect to 5,540,200 Shares
over which the Reporting  Person has sole dispositive and voting power by reason
of serving as the investment advisor to (i) AJR International Master Fund, Ltd.,
a British Virgin Islands company ("AJR"),  (ii) Quest Capital Partners,  L.P., a
Delaware  limited  partnership  ("Quest"),  (iii) Cambrian Master Fund,  Ltd., a
British Virgin Islands company ("Cambrian Fund"), (iv) Cambrian Partners,  L.P.,
a Delaware  limited  partnership  ("Cambrian  Partners"),  (v)  several  managed
accounts  (the "Managed  Accounts"),  (vi) the  Reporting  Person's  401k/Profit
Sharing Plan (the "Plan") and (vii) Alexander J. Roepers, the president and sole
shareholder  of the  Reporting  Person.  Mr.  Roepers also serves as the general
partner of Quest and Cambrian Partners.

          (b) The business  address of the Reporting  Person and Mr.  Roepers is
666 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, New York 10103.

          (c) The  principal  business  of the  Reporting  Person  is that of an
investment  advisor  engaging  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  securities  for
investment  with the objective of capital  appreciation on behalf of AJR, Quest,
Cambrian  Fund,  Cambrian  Partners,  the  Managed  Accounts,  the  Plan and Mr.
Roepers. The principal occupation of Mr. Roepers is serving as the president and
managing officer of the Reporting Person.

          (d) Neither the Reporting  Person nor Mr. Roepers has, during the past
five (5) years,  been  convicted  in a criminal  proceeding  (excluding  traffic
violations or similar misdemeanors).

          (e) Neither the Reporting  Person nor Mr. Roepers has, during the past
five  (5)  years,  been a  party  to  any  civil  proceeding  of a  judicial  or
administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding
was or is now subject to a  judgment,  decree or final  order  enjoining  future
violations  of, or prohibiting  or mandating  activities  subject to, federal or
state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

          (f) Mr. Roepers is a citizen of The Netherlands.





Item 3.   Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration
          -------------------------------------------------

          The Shares  purchased by the Reporting Person on behalf of AJR, Quest,
Cambrian  Fund,  Cambrian  Partners,  the  Managed  Accounts  and the Plan  were
purchased with the investment capital of such entities and accounts.  The Shares
that may be deemed to be  beneficially  owned by Mr. Roepers  individually  were
purchased  with the  personal  funds of Mr.  Roepers or members of Mr.  Roepers'
immediate  family.  The  aggregate  amount of funds used in making the purchases
reported on this Schedule 13D was $16,071,441.28.


Item 4.   Purpose of Transaction
          ----------------------

          The Reporting Person acquired, on behalf of AJR, Quest, Cambrian Fund,
Cambrian  Partners,  the Managed Accounts,  the Plan and Mr. Roepers  (including
immediate  family  members of Mr.  Roepers),  and continues to hold,  the Shares
reported in this Schedule 13D for  investment  purposes.  The  Reporting  Person
intends  to  evaluate  the  performance  of the Shares as an  investment  in the
ordinary  course  of  business.  The  Reporting  Person  pursues  an  investment
objective  that  seeks  capital   appreciation.   In  pursuing  this  investment
objective,  the Reporting Person analyzes the operations,  capital structure and
markets of companies in which the Reporting  Person's clients invest,  including
the  Issuer,  on a  continuous  basis  through  analysis  of  documentation  and
discussions   with   knowledgeable   industry  and  market  observers  and  with
representatives of such companies.

          The Reporting Person will continuously  assess the Issuer's  business,
financial  condition,  results of operations  and  prospects,  general  economic
conditions,  the  securities  markets  in  general  and those for the  Shares in
particular, other developments and other investment opportunities.  Depending on
such  assessments,  the Reporting  Person may acquire  additional  Shares or may
determine  to sell or otherwise  dispose of all or some of the Shares  presently
held by AJR, Quest, Cambrian Fund, Cambrian Partners,  the Managed Accounts, the
Plan and Mr. Roepers (including  immediate family members of Mr. Roepers) in the
open market or in private transactions.  Such actions will depend upon a variety
of  factors,  including,  without  limitation,  current and  anticipated  future
trading prices for the Shares,  the financial  condition,  results of operations
and  prospects  of the Issuer,  alternative  investment  opportunities,  general
economic,  financial  market and industry  conditions and other factors that the
Reporting Person may deem material to its investment decision.

          The  Reporting  Person will continue its active  discussions  with the
Issuer's  management  with  respect to (i)  actions  which might be taken by the
management  of the Issuer to maximize  shareholder  value of the Issuer and (ii)
improving the Issuer's investor relations. Attached is a letter dated August 18,
2005 to the Chairman of the Board of Directors/Chief Executive Officer/President
of the Issuer, outlining the Reporting Person's proposal for a substantial share
repurchase  plan. In addition,  the Reporting  Person may hold  discussions with
other parties who might engage in shareholder value enhancing activities for the
benefit of all of the Issuer's shareholders.  There can be no assurance that the
Reporting  Person  will  take  any  of the  actions  described  in the  previous
sentence.

          Except as set forth above,  the Reporting  Person has no present plans
or proposals which relate to or would result in any of the transactions required
to be described in Item 4 of Schedule 13D.



Item 5.   Interest in Securities of the Issuer
          ------------------------------------

          (a) Based upon the  information  contained in the  Issuer's  Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission on July
28, 2005,  there were issued and  outstanding  98,977,135  Shares as of June 26,
2005.

          (b) The  Reporting  Person  does  not  directly  own any  Shares.  The
Reporting Person has entered into an investment  advisory agreement with each of
AJR, Quest, Cambrian Fund, Cambrian Partners,  the Managed Accounts and the Plan
pursuant to which the Reporting Person has investment  authority with respect to
the securities  held by such entities or in such  accounts.  Such power includes
the  power to  dispose  of and the  power to vote the  Shares.  By reason of the
provisions of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
Reporting Person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of the Shares held by such
entities and accounts.  In addition,  the Reporting  Person has sole dispositive
and voting  power over the 2,900  Shares  that may be deemed to be  beneficially
owned by Mr. Roepers. Accordingly, the Reporting Person is deemed the beneficial
owner of 5,540,200 Shares, or 5.6% of the outstanding Shares.

          (c) The  following  table  details the  transactions  by the Reporting
Person, on behalf of AJR, Quest,  Cambrian Fund, Cambrian Partners,  the Managed
Accounts and the Plan, in Shares,  as well as transactions in Shares that may be
deemed to be beneficially owned by Mr. Roepers, during the past sixty (60) days:




  Date                Quantity             Price            Type of Transaction
  ----                --------             -----            -------------------

8/12/2005              94,100             $27.8491          Open Market Purchase
8/15/2005              90,300             $27.8401          Open Market Purchase
8/16/2005             157,000             $27.8821          Open Market Purchase
8/17/2005             239,200             $27.4222          Open Market Purchase


          Except  for the  transactions  listed  above,  neither  the  Reporting
Person, any entity for which the Reporting Person serves as investment  advisor,
nor any person or entity  controlled by the Reporting  Person,  nor Mr.  Roepers
(including Mr. Roepers'  immediate  family members) has traded Shares during the
past sixty (60) days.


Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to
        Securities of the Issuer
        ------------------------

         Not Applicable

Item 7. Material to be filed as exhibits 
        --------------------------------

        See Exhibit A attached hereto.








                                    SIGNATURE
                                    ---------

          After  reasonable  inquiry  and  to  the  best  of  the  undersigned's
knowledge and belief,  the undersigned hereby certifies that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.


                                          August 18, 2005


                                          ATLANTIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.


                                          By: /s/ Alexander J. Roepers
                                             -----------------------------------
                                              Alexander J. Roepers, President


      ATTENTION: INTENTIONAL MISSTATEMENTS OR OMISSIONS OF FACT CONSTITUTE
               FEDERAL CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS (SEE 18 U.S.C. 1001).



                                    EXHIBIT A

                         ATLANTIC INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
                                  INCORPORATED


By Fax and FedEx

August 18, 2005

Mr. Harris E. DeLoach Jr.
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Sonoco Products Co.
One North Second Street
Hartsville, South Carolina 29551-0160

Dear Harris:

As Sonoco  Products  Co.'s  ("SON")  second  largest  shareholder  with over 5.5
million shares (representing 5.6% of the shares outstanding,  per our 13D-filing
of today to which a copy of this letter is attached),  we share with you and the
Board of Directors a keen  interest in ensuring  that SON  achieves  sustainable
growth of shareholder value for all SON shareholders.

While we are generally  pleased with recent  corporate  development  actions and
your team's operating performance, I am writing you to underscore our contention
that one immediately  available avenue of shareholder value enhancement has been
largely ignored: a substantial share repurchase.

We  strongly  urge you and the Board of  Directors  to  consider a  one-time  10
million  share  repurchase,  using  your  existing  5.3  million  share buy back
authorization   (dating  from  February  2001  and  virtually  unused)  plus  an
additional authorization to repurchase 4.7 million shares. The transaction would
preferably  take  place as soon as  possible  and all at once,  through  a Dutch
tender offer or an accelerated share repurchase plan.

The effect of the 10 million  share  repurchase  would be to add more than 5% to
SON's earnings per share growth in the coming year,  with  negligible  after-tax
cash cost.  Please see the  attached  for  details.  In addition  to  increasing
earnings per share, this action is likely to result in a higher P/E multiple for
SON  shares  as  management  will  be  seen  as  more  pro-active  in  enhancing
shareholder value along all possible avenues.  Importantly, SON would maintain a
solid balance sheet with ample  flexibility  to pursue its capital  spending and
acquisition plans.

I appreciate your and the Board of Directors' time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely,


Alexander J. Roepers
President


                                   Attachment

            EPS and Cashflow Impact of a 10 Million Share Repurchase
                             by Sonoco Products Co.


    EPS Impact

    Average Repurchase Cost per Share                                     $27.50

    Number of Shares Repurchased                                       10.0 mln.

    Percentage of Shares Repurchased (1)                                    9.9%

    Estimated 2006 Net Income                                        $201.3 mln.

    Less: After-tax Cost of Added Interest Expense (2)                $10.1 mln.
                                                                      -----

    Pro forma 2006 Net Income                                        $191.2 mln.

    Pro forma Shares Outstanding                                       90.6 mln.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pro Forma EPS                                                          $2.11

    Pro Forma EPS Accretion (3)                                            $0.11

    Percentage Increase in EPS                                              5.5%
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Cashflow Impact

    After-tax Cost of Added Interest                                  $10.1 mln.

    Less: Dividend Payment Saved (4)                                   $9.2 mln.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Pro Forma Annual Cash Outlay of Share Repurchase                   $0.9 mln.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Incremental Debt                                                 $275.0 mln.


    (1) Assumes 100.58 million diluted shares outstanding 
    (2) Assumes tax rate of 35.0%, interest rate of 5.625% 
    (3) Pre-buyback 2006 EPS estimate of $2.00 
    (4) Assumes $0.92 per share annual dividend



    Atlantic Investment Management, Inc.
    8/18/2005