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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001080730-05-000001.txt : 20050912
<SEC-HEADER>0001080730-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050912140850
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001080730-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050912
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050912

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075659
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPER MILLS [2621]
		IRS NUMBER:				916087550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14900 INTERURBAN AVENUE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 282
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98168
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066744639

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14900 INTERURBAN AVENUE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 282
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98168

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASIAMERICA EQUITIES LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PACIFIC WEST REALTY TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860219

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEE JIMMY S H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080730

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09409
		FILM NUMBER:		051079590

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		0114112017710

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BURGLISTRASSE 6
		STREET 2:		POSTFACH 8002 ZURICH SWITZERLAND
		CITY:			ZURICH
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075659</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MERCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001080730</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEE JIMMY S H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BURGLISTRASSE 6</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>POSTFACH 8002 ZURICH SWITZERLAND</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ZURICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1174800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Lee was granted 40,000 restricted shares of beneficial interest by Mercer International Inc. (&quot;Mercer&quot;) in connection with his role as an executive officer of Mercer.  These shares vest and become non-forfeitable in three equal annual installments on September 9, 2005, September 9, 2006 and September 9, 2007 unless a change in control of Mercer occurs prior to such date, in which case such shares vest immediately upon the occurrence of such change in control.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Lee also holds options to acquire up to 835,000 shares of beneficial interest of Mercer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jimmy S.H. Lee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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