-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RV0Mg1wX7vEY0rtq6IN+LGINcg6zwwigu25cy02t3ARWjcjE7GARTrqec2z33vPb
 F7fQvDT2XtXUYIj6zB8nYQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001337324-05-000002.txt : 20050912
<SEC-HEADER>0001337324-05-000002.hdr.sgml : 20050912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050912144348
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001337324-05-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050909
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:			Ridder Wolfram
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001337324

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09409
		FILM NUMBER:		051079688

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		49-0-9280-8451

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AM EISENBUHL 7
		CITY:			SELBITZ
		STATE:			2M
		ZIP:			D-95152
</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>2005-09-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001337324</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ridder Wolfram</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AM EISENBUHL 7</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SELBITZ</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>D-95152</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Business Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <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>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-09</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Ridder was granted options to acquire up to 20,000 shares of Mercer International Inc. (&quot;Mercer&quot;) on September 9, 2005 (the &quot;Date of Grant&quot;) which are exercisable as to one-third on the Date of Grant and one-third on each of the first and second anniversaries thereof.  The options have a ten year term and are exercisable at a price of $7.92 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Wolfram Ridder</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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