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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON D.C.  20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


      DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):  DECEMBER 23, 2003


                            MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                   WASHINGTON
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)


             000-9409                             91-6087550
     (Commission File Number)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)



          14900 INTERURBAN AVENUE SOUTH, SUITE 282, SEATTLE, WA  98168
                               (Address of Office)


                                 (206) 674-4639
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

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ITEM  5.     OTHER  EVENTS  AND  REGULATION  FD  DISCLOSURE

On  December  23, 2003, Mercer International Inc. (the "Company") announced that
it  had adopted a shareholder protection rights plan to replace its current plan
which  expires  on  December  31, 2003.  The new rights plan is on substantially
similar terms as the Company's prior rights plan and will be effective until the
close  of business on December 31, 2005, unless otherwise terminated.  Under the
rights  plan,  the  Company  will  issue  one right for each share of beneficial
interest  of the Company outstanding as of the close of business on December 31,
2003  and  one right for each share of beneficial interest issued after December
31,  2003.  Each right entitles a shareholder to purchase a fraction of a Series
A  Junior  Participating  Preferred  Share  of  the  Company with economic terms
similar  to  that  of  the Company's shares of beneficial interest at an initial
exercise  price  of $75 subject to certain adjustments as set forth in the plan.
The  rights  will become exercisable only upon the occurrence of certain events.
A  summary  of the rights plan is set forth as Exhibit C to the rights agreement
which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto.  A copy of the press release announcing
the  rights  plan  is  attached  as  Exhibit  99.1  hereto.

ITEM  7.     FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  AND  EXHIBITS

(c)     EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT  NO.        DESCRIPTION
------------        -----------

    4.1             Rights Agreement dated as of December 23, 2003 between
                    Mercer International Inc.  and  Computershare  Trust
                    Company  of  Canada.

    99.1            Press  Release  dated  December  23,  2003.

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                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has  duly  caused  this  report  to  be  signed on its behalf by the
undersigned  hereunto  duly  authorized.



                                      MERCER  INTERNATIONAL  INC.

                                      /s/  David  M.  Gandossi
                                      --------------------------
                                      David  M.  Gandossi
                                      Secretary

Date:     December  23,  2003

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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT  NUMBER     DESCRIPTION
---------------     -----------

     4.1            Rights  Agreement  dated as of December 23, 2003
                    between  Mercer International  Inc.  and
                    Computershare  Trust  Company  of  Canada.

     99.1           Press  Release  dated  December  23,  2003.