EXHIBIT 99.1

CONTACT:        Rob Damron
                Investor Relations Representative
                Bell Microproducts Inc.
                (414) 224-1668
                ir@bellmicro.com
                Website: http://www.bellmicro.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

        BELL MICROPRODUCTS PRICES CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES OFFERING

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Bell Microproducts
Inc.(NASDAQ-NMS:BELM) (Nasdaq: BELM) announced today the pricing of a private
offering of $90 million aggregate principal amount of 3 3/4% convertible
subordinated notes due 2024. The offering has been made only to qualified
institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended. Bell Microproducts has granted the initial purchasers a 30 day
option to purchase up to an additional $20 million of notes. The notes are
convertible into the company's common stock under certain circumstances at a
conversion rate of 91.2596 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, subject
to adjustment, which is equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $10.96
per share. This represents a 32.5% premium over Bell Microproducts closing price
of its common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on March 1, 2004 of $8.27 per
share. The offering is expected to close on March 5, 2004.

Bell Microproducts may redeem some or all of the notes under certain
circumstances on or after March 5, 2009 and prior to March 5, 2011, and at any
time thereafter without such circumstances, at 100% of the principal amount,
plus accrued but unpaid interest up to, but excluding, the redemption date. Bell
Microproducts may be required to purchase some or all of the notes on March 5,
2011, March 5, 2014 or March 5, 2019 or in the event of a change in control at
100% of the principal amount, plus accrued but unpaid interest up to, but
excluding, the purchase date.

Bell Microproducts intends to use the net proceeds from the offering to repay
amounts outstanding under its working capital facilities with Wachovia Bank,
N.A. and Bank of America, National Association and its 9% senior subordinated
notes held by The Retirement Systems of Alabama.

This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation of an offer to
buy any of these securities and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or
sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful.


The securities offered have not been registered under the Security Act of 1933
or any state securities laws and unless so registered may not be offered or sold
in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and
applicable state securities laws.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In particular, our completion
of the offering of convertible subordinated notes is subject to various risks,
including prevailing conditions in the public capital markets. There can be no
assurance that the offering will be successfully completed. Investors should
take such risks into account when making investment decisions. Shareholders and
other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Bell
Microproducts undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any
forward-looking statements.