-----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,
 Q4eV91qL12Rm6MGxelC4TTLTQCGac/lP95vfce/LhRbSm1vqE+i1/yKm4fhTQ0Fb
 bHZ2ydJ+nhTwf+RYZ26A5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001405086-10-000270.txt : 20101102
<SEC-HEADER>0001405086-10-000270.hdr.sgml : 20101102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101102122503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001405086-10-000270
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101029
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LASRY MARC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001259927

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50132
		FILM NUMBER:		101157208

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AVENUE CAPITAL
		STREET 2:		399 PARK AVENUE, 6TH FL.
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STERLING CHEMICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001014669
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS [2860]
		IRS NUMBER:				760502785
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 CLAY STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-4109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7136503700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 CLAY STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 3600
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-4109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STX CHEMICALS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960516
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001014669</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STERLING CHEMICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259927</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LASRY MARC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AVENUE CAPITAL</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>399 PARK AVENUE, 6TH FL.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>404418</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SEE FOOTNOTES</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities the disposition of which is reported in this Form 4 were held directly by Avenue Special Situations Fund II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;SSII&quot;).  The Reporting Person is (i) the Managing Member of Avenue Capital Management II GenPar, LLC, which is the general partner of Avenue Capital Management II, L.P., which is the registered investment adviser to SSII and (ii) the Managing Member of the Managing Member of the general partner of SSII.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person is deemed to be the indirect beneficial owner of the securities the disposition of which is reported in this Form 4, as well as of the securities reported as beneficially owned following the reported transaction, by reason of his ability to direct the vote and/or disposition of such securities, and his pecuniary interest in such securities (within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(2) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) was a fractional interest in such amount.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any and all such amounts in excess of such actual pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Eric Ross as Attorney-In-Fact for Marc Lasry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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