<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-015702.txt : 20170427
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-015702.hdr.sgml : 20170427
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170427161332
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-015702
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170425
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170427
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEPAN CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000094049
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SOAP, DETERGENT, CLEANING PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS [2840]
		IRS NUMBER:				361823834
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EDENS & WINNETKA ROAD
		CITY:			NORTHFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474467500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		EDENS & WINNETKA ROAD
		CITY:			NORTHFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60093

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	STEPAN CHEMICAL CO /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19840108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Delgado Joaquin
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001465913

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04462
		FILM NUMBER:		17789223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3M CENTER
		STREET 2:		OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL
		CITY:			ST. PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55144-1000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-04-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094049</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEPAN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001465913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Delgado Joaquin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>22 W. FRONTAGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60093</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-04-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1044</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8654</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Matthew M. Rice, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>doc1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY (PUBLIC): DRJOAQUINDELGADOPOA
<TEXT>
POWER OF ATTORNEY

	KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned hereby
constitutes and appoints each of Jennifer Ansbro Hale and Matthew Michael
Rice, signing singly, as the undersigned?s true and lawful authorized
representatives and attorneys-in-fact to:

(1)	execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the undersigned?s
capacity as a director of Stepan Company (?the Company?), Forms 3, 4 and 5,
and any and all amendments thereto, in accordance with Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the ?1934 Act?), and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder;

(2)	do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of the undersigned
which may be necessary or desirable to complete the execution of any such
form or schedule and the timely filing of such form or schedule with the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or
stock market or other authority; and

(3)	take any other action of any type whatsoever in connection with the
foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorneys-in-fact, may be of benefit
to, in the best interest of, or legally required by, the undersigned, it
being understood that the documents executed by such attorneys-in-fact on
behalf of the undersigned pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in
such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as such attorneys-in-
fact may approve in such attorneys-in-fact?s discretion.

	The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-fact full
power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever
requisite, necessary or proper to be done in the exercise of any of the
rights and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and purposes as
the undersigned might or could do if personally present, with full power
of substitution or revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such
attorneys-in-fact, or such attorneys-in-fact?s substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this power of attorney
and the rights and powers herein granted.  The undersigned acknowledges that
the foregoing attorneys-in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request
of the undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming any of the
undersigned?s responsibilities to comply with Section 16 or any other
provision of the 1934 Act.

	This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until
the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4 and 5 with respect
to the undersigned?s holdings of and transactions in securities issued by
the Company, unless earlier revoked by the undersigned in a signed writing
delivered to the foregoing attorneys-in-fact.

	IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Power of
Attorney to be executed as of this 19th day of July, 2016.



/s/ Dr. Joaquin Delgado
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
