-----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,
 ABHnEZXin+8fu4lhx7+Px0TOfYyxouU93h++MUkWtjFEneBgVnwozpYAi0t3TmfW
 DyOeVqaUe3TyPW8wQInTDw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009326-04-000005.txt : 20040223
<SEC-HEADER>0000009326-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040223175331
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009326-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEDRAL ELAINE R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13648
		FILM NUMBER:		04623012

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BALCHEM CORP
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 600
		CITY:			NEW HAMPTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10958

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALCHEM CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009326
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [2800]
		IRS NUMBER:				132578432
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 600
		CITY:			NEW HAMPTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10958
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8453265632

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 600
		CITY:			NEW HAMPTON
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10958
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALCHEM CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>bcp</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEDRAL ELAINE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BALCHEM CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P O BOX 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW HAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10958</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1162</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-19</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1162</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2162</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Elaine R. Wedral</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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