-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 0V+aHXV1mD6OAtdm6vi+Qw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001088370-03-000001.txt : 20030711
<SEC-HEADER>0001088370-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030711
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030711124642
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001088370-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030710
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030711

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TERRA INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000722079
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE CHEMICALS [2870]
		IRS NUMBER:				521145429
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 FOURTH ST
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 6000
		CITY:			SIOUX CITY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			51102-6000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7122771340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 FOURTH STREET
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 6000
		CITY:			SIOUX CITY
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			51102-6000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INSPIRATION RESOURCES CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920517

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ANGLO AMERICAN PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001088370

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08520
		FILM NUMBER:		03783282

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE
		CITY:			LONDON U K
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			SW1Y 5AN
		BUSINESS PHONE:		011441716988888

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		20 CARLTON HOUSE TERRACE
		CITY:			LONDON U K
		STATE:			X0
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-10</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000722079</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TERRA INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001088370</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ANGLO AMERICAN PLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Call Options (right to buy)</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.829</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-10</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>227750</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>2</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-05-15</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>227750</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>4548700</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>See footnote 3</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The call options were cash settled.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options were exercisable immediately upon their grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The call options are held by Taurus International, S.A., a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Anglo American plc, as nominee for Anglo American plc.  Anglo American plc, Taurus International S.A. and Taurus Investments S.A. each disclaim beneficial ownership of the Common Shares subject to the call options for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anglo American plc</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----