Mercer International (MERC) 10-K 21 Feb 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 19, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Document and Entity Information	'	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Trading Symbol	'merc	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'MERCER INTERNATIONAL INC.	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001333274	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	55,853,704	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$364,166,150
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE_SHEETS

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 2)	$147,728	$137,439
Receivables (Note 3)	135,893	145,150
Inventories (Note 4)	170,908	155,979
Prepaid expenses and other	10,918	10,425
Deferred income tax (Note 9)	6,326	5,887
Total current assets	471,773	454,880
Long-term assets	'	'
Property, plant and equipment (Note 5)	1,038,631	1,066,506
Deferred note issuance and other	20,998	16,036
Deferred income tax (Note 9)	17,157	23,159
Total noncurrent assets	1,076,786	1,105,701
Total assets	1,548,559	1,560,581
Current liabilities	'	'
Accounts payable and other (Note 6)	103,814	118,599
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations (Note 8)	1,330	1,072
Debt (Note 7)	60,355	60,205
Total current liabilities	165,499	179,876
Long-term liabilities	'	'
Debt (Note 7)	919,017	877,780
Interest rate derivative liability (Note17)	46,517	66,819
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations (Note 8)	35,466	42,378
Capital leases and other (Note 19)	19,293	18,375
Deferred income tax (Note 9)	14,450	7,591
Total long-term liabilities	1,034,743	1,012,943
Total liabilities	1,200,242	1,192,819
Shareholders' equity	'	'
Share capital (Note 10)	328,549	327,818
Paid-in capital	-11,756	-4,481
Retained earnings	10,815	37,190
Accumulated other comprehensive income (Note 14)	31,470	28,577
Total shareholders' equity	359,078	389,104
Noncontrolling interest (deficit) (Note 15)	-10,761	-21,342
Total equity	348,317	367,762
Total liabilities and equity	1,548,559	1,560,581
Commitments and contingencies (Note 20)	'	'

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_OPE

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues	'	'	'
Pulp	$996,187	$979,770	$1,157,206
Energy and chemicals	92,198	92,966	94,758
Total revenues	1,088,385	1,072,736	1,251,964
Costs and expenses	'	'	'
Operating costs	920,832	886,144	965,723
Operating depreciation and amortization	78,309	74,302	77,611
Gross profit	89,244	112,290	208,630
Selling, general and administrative expenses	51,169	49,268	53,965
Restructuring expenses (Note 13)	6,415	0	0
Operating income	31,660	63,022	154,665
Other income (expense)	'	'	'
Interest expense	-69,156	-71,767	-82,114
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments (Note 17)	19,709	4,812	-1,974
Other income (expense)	1,215	-179	3,625
Total other income (expense)	-48,232	-67,134	-80,463
Income (loss) before income taxes	-16,572	-4,112	74,202
Income tax benefit (provision) - current	2,286	-9,531	-2,341
Income tax benefit (provision) - deferred	-11,482	152	3,309
Net income (loss)	-25,768	-13,491	75,170
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-607	-2,179	-5,471
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	($26,375)	($15,670)	$69,699
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders (Note 12)	'	'	'
Basic	($0.47)	($0.28)	$1.39
Diluted	($0.47)	($0.28)	$1.24

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($25,768)	($13,491)	$75,170
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment (net of tax effect of ($1,002), ($454), $951)	-1,733	11,635	-19,394
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	4,636	-808	-11,203
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	-10	-1	-17
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	2,893	10,826	-30,614
Total comprehensive income (loss)	-22,875	-2,665	44,556
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-607	-2,179	-5,471
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	($23,482)	($4,844)	$39,085

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_COM1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment, tax effect	($1,002)	($454)	$951
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans, tax effect	0	0	0
Change in unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities, tax effect	$0	$0	$0

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $)	Parent [Member]	Common Shares [Member]	Par Value [Member]	Amount Paid In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest (Deficit) [Member]	Total
In Thousands, except Share data	USD ($)		USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$314,974	'	$42,785	$242,840	($4,550)	($14,466)	$48,365	($28,992)	$285,982
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010	'	42,999,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares	0	'	98	386	-484	0	0	0	0
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares (in shares)	'	238,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares issued on grants of performance shares	0	'	358	5,315	-5,673	0	0	0	0
Shares issued on grants of performance shares (in shares)	'	358,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares issued on conversion of convertible notes	43,289	'	13,447	29,842	0	0	0	0	43,289
Shares issued on conversion of convertible notes (in shares)	'	13,447,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Treasury shares retired	-10,623	'	-1,263	-6,987	0	-2,373	0	0	-10,623
Treasury shares retired (in shares)	'	-1,263,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock compensation expense	4,607	'	0	0	4,607	0	0	0	4,607
Net income (loss)	69,699	'	0	0	0	69,699	0	5,471	75,170
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-19,394	'	0	0	0	0	-19,394	0	-19,394
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	-11,203	'	0	0	0	0	-11,203	0	-11,203
Change in unrealized losses on marketable securities	-17	'	0	0	0	0	-17	0	-17
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	391,332	'	55,425	271,396	-6,100	52,860	17,751	-23,521	367,811
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	'	55,779,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares	0	'	78	919	-997	0	0	0	0
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares (in shares)	'	37,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock compensation expense	2,616	'	0	0	2,616	0	0	0	2,616
Net income (loss)	-15,670	'	0	0	0	-15,670	0	2,179	-13,491
Foreign currency translation adjustments	11,635	'	0	0	0	0	11,635	0	11,635
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	-808	'	0	0	0	0	-808	0	-808
Change in unrealized losses on marketable securities	-1	'	0	0	0	0	-1	0	-1
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	389,104	'	55,503	272,315	-4,481	37,190	28,577	-21,342	367,762
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	'	55,816,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	55,815,704
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares	0	'	77	654	-731	0	0	0	0
Shares issued on grants of restricted shares (in shares)	'	38,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock compensation expense	3,574	'	0	0	3,574	0	0	0	3,574
Net income (loss)	-26,375	'	0	0	0	-26,375	0	607	-25,768
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-1,733	'	0	0	0	0	-1,733	0	-1,733
Noncontrolling interest decrease from purchase of interest	'	'	0	0	'	0	0	9,974	9,974
Loss on acquisition of a portion of the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary	-10,118	'	'	'	-10,118	'	'	'	10,118
Net Change In Equity Purchase of Noncontrolling Interest	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	-144
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	4,636	'	0	0	0	0	4,636	0	4,636
Change in unrealized losses on marketable securities	-10	'	0	0	0	0	-10	0	-10
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$359,078	'	$55,580	$272,969	($11,756)	$10,815	$31,470	($10,761)	$348,317
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013	'	55,854,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	55,853,704

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CHA1

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Parenthetical)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]	'
Noncontrolling interest change in ownership parent	8.10%

CONSOLIDATED_STATEMENTS_OF_CAS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities	'	'	'
Net income (loss)	($25,768)	($13,491)	$75,170
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows from operating activities	'	'	'
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	-21,494	-3,186	1,974
Depreciation and amortization	78,645	74,657	77,952
Deferred income taxes	11,482	-152	-3,309
Stock compensation expense	3,574	2,616	4,607
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding	648	365	-374
Other	3,169	4,991	1,116
Changes in working capital	'	'	'
Receivables	13,993	10,795	-2,233
Inventories	-14,563	1,726	-24,654
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-11,569	-17,992	19,837
Other	-1,792	-1,214	4,490
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	36,325	59,115	154,576
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities	'	'	'
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-45,707	-47,203	-52,626
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment	739	840	1,132
Purchase of marketable securities	0	0	-16,343
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities	0	15,753	0
Note receivable	0	0	3,988
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	-44,968	-30,610	-63,849
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities	'	'	'
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes	-56,416	-35,440	-67,702
Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt	74,472	0	0
Repayment of capital lease obligations	-2,593	-2,733	-4,095
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net	-5,640	6,031	-20,491
Payment of note issuance costs	-3,855	-2,570	0
Proceeds from government grants	9,265	5,045	20,049
Purchase of treasury shares	0	0	-10,623
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	15,233	-29,667	-82,862
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,699	2,302	-4,166
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,289	1,140	3,699
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	137,439	136,299	132,600
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	147,728	137,439	136,299
Cash paid during the period for	'	'	'
Interest	65,747	66,673	80,347
Income taxes	7,307	5,003	4,450
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities	'	'	'
Acquisition of production and other equipment under capital lease obligations	2,112	2,648	3,872
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued purchases for property, plant and equipment	-5,712	7,986	451
Increase (decrease) in receivables of government grants for long-term assets	$2,871	($3,291)	($9,514)

The_Company_And_Summary_Of_Sig

The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies	'
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
	Background
	Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer Inc." or the "Company") is a Washington corporation and the Company's shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
	Mercer Inc. operates three pulp manufacturing facilities, one in Canada and two in Germany, and is one of the largest producers of market northern bleached softwood kraft ("NBSK") pulp in the world.
	In these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in United States dollars ("$" or "U.S. dollar"). The symbol "€" refers to the Euro and the symbol "C$" refers to Canadian dollars.
	Basis of Presentation
	These Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
	Effective October 1, 2013, the Company changed its reporting currency from the Euro to the U.S. dollar, to enhance communication and understanding with its shareholders, analysts and other stakeholders and improve comparability of the Company's financial information with its competitors and peer group companies. With the change in reporting currency, all comparative financial information has been restated from Euros to U.S. dollars to reflect the Company's consolidated financial statements as if it had been historically reported in U.S. dollars, consistent with the Company's currency translation policy described below in Foreign Operations and Currency Translation.
	Use of Estimates
	Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the accounting for, among other things, doubtful accounts and reserves, depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for long-lived assets, derivative financial instruments, legal liabilities, asset retirement obligations, pensions and post-retirement benefit obligations, income taxes, contingencies and inventory obsolescence and provisions. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
	Investments
	Investments in debt securities and equity investments in publicly traded companies in which the Company does not exercise significant influence are classified as available-for-sale securities. These securities are reported at fair values; based upon quoted market prices, with the unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders' equity, until realized. If a loss in value in available-for-sale securities is considered to be other than temporary, the loss is recognized in the determination of net income. The cost of all securities sold is based on the specific identification method to determine realized gains or losses.
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	Inventories
	Inventories of raw materials, finished goods and work in progress are valued at the lower of cost, using the weighted-average cost method, or net realizable value. Other materials and spare parts are valued at the lower of cost and replacement cost. Cost includes labor, materials and production overhead and is determined by using the weighted average cost method. Raw materials inventories include both roundwood (logs) and wood chips. These inventories are located both at the pulp mills and at various offsite locations. In accordance with industry practice, physical inventory counts utilize standardized techniques to estimate quantities of roundwood and wood chip inventory volumes. These techniques historically have provided reasonable estimates of such inventories.
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings and production equipment is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets and is computed using the straight-line method. Buildings are depreciated over 10 to 50 years and production equipment and other primarily over 25 years.
	The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. To determine recoverability, the Company compares the carrying value of the assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets held for use is based on the fair value of the asset.
	The costs of major rebuilds, replacements and those expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of existing property, plant, and equipment are capitalized, as well as interest costs associated with major capital projects until ready for their intended use. The cost of repairs and maintenance as well as planned shutdown maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, composed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is charged to operations as incurred.
	Leases which transfer to the Company substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item are capitalized at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Capital leases are depreciated over the lease term. Operating lease payments are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
	The Company provides for asset retirement obligations when there is a legislated or contractual basis for those obligations. Obligations are recorded as a liability at fair value, with a corresponding increase to property, plant, and equipment, and are amortized over the remaining useful life of the related assets. The liability is accreted using a risk-free interest rate.
	Government Grants
	The Company records investment grants from federal and state governments when the conditions of their receipt are complied with and there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be received. Grants related to assets are government grants whose primary condition is that the company qualifying for them should purchase, construct or otherwise acquire long-term assets. Secondary conditions may also be attached, including restricting the type or location of the assets and/or other conditions that must be met. Grants related to assets are deducted from the asset costs in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Grants related to income are government grants which are either unconditional, related to reduced environmental emissions or related to the Company's normal business operations, and are reported as a reduction of related expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations when received.
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	The Company is required to pay certain fees based on water consumption levels at its German mills. Accrued fees can be reduced upon the mills' demonstration of reduced wastewater emissions. The fees are expensed as incurred and the fee reduction is recognized once the Company has reasonable assurance that the German regulators will accept the reduced level of wastewater emissions. There may be a significant period of time between recognition of the wastewater expense and recognition of the wastewater fee reduction.
	To the extent that government grants have been received and not applied, these grants are recorded in cash with a corresponding adjustment to accounts payable and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet due to the short-term nature of the related payments.
	Deferred Note Issuance Costs
	Note issuance costs are deferred and amortized as a component of interest expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations over the term of the related debt instrument.
	Pensions
	The Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan for its salaried employees at its Celgar mill which is funded and non-contributory. The cost of the benefits earned by the salaried employees is determined using the projected benefit method prorated on services. The pension expense reflects the current service cost, the interest on the unfunded liability and the amortization over the estimated average remaining service life of the employees of (i) prior service costs, and (ii) the net actuarial gain or loss that exceeds 10% of the greater of the accrued benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets as of the beginning of the period. The Company recognizes the net funded status of the plan.
	In addition, hourly-paid employees at the Celgar mill are covered by a multiemployer pension plan for which contributions are charged against earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	Foreign Operations and Currency Translation
	The Company translates foreign assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries, other than those denominated in U.S. dollars, at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange throughout the year. Transaction gains and losses related to net assets primarily located in Canada and Germany are recognized as unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity, until all of the investment in the subsidiaries is sold or liquidated. The translation adjustments do not recognize the effect of income tax when the Company expects earnings of the foreign subsidiary to be indefinitely reinvested. The income tax effect on currency translation adjustments related to foreign subsidiaries that are not considered indefinitely reinvested is recorded as a component of deferred taxes in the Consolidated Balance Sheet with an offset to other comprehensive income. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions (transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity's functional currency) are included in costs and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Where inter-company loans are of a long-term investment nature, the after-tax effect of exchange rate changes are included as an unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity.
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	Revenue and Related Cost Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue from product, transportation, chemical and other sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the sales price is fixed or determinable, title of ownership and risk of loss have passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales are reported net of discounts and allowances.
	Amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling are recognized as revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are included in operating costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The Company reports revenue from sales of surplus electricity and the sale of chemicals as energy and chemical revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Energy revenues are recognized as the electricity is consumed by customers and when collection is reasonably assured. These revenues include an estimate of the value of electricity transferred to customers in the year but billed subsequent to year-end. Customer bills are based on agreed upon rates and meter readings that indicate electricity consumption.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense over an award's vesting period based on the award's fair value in selling, general, and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The fair value of performance share units is re-measured at each balance sheet date by multiplying the market price of a share of Mercer Inc. common shares by the expected number of common shares to be awarded. The cumulative effect of the change in fair value is recognized in the period of the change as an adjustment to compensation cost. The Company estimates forfeitures of performance share units based on management's expectations and recognizes compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Estimated forfeitures are adjusted to actual experience at each balance sheet date.
	The fair value of restricted share awards is determined by multiplying the market price of a share of Mercer Inc. common shares on the grant date by the number of units granted.
	Income Taxes
	Deferred income taxes are recognized using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided if, after considering both positive and negative available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	Deferred income taxes are determined separately for each tax-paying component of the Company. For each tax-paying component, all current deferred tax liabilities and assets are offset and presented as a single net amount and all noncurrent deferred tax liabilities and assets are offset and presented as a single net amount.
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company occasionally enters into derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency forward contracts, electricity forward contracts, interest rate swaps, and pulp price swaps to limit exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, energy prices, interest rates, and pulp prices. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments. The change in fair value of electricity derivative contracts is included in operating costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and any changes in the fair value of foreign currency, interest rate, and pulp price derivative contracts are recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Periodically, the Company enters into derivative contracts to supply materials for its own use and as such are exempt from mark-to-market accounting.
	Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders
	Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders is calculated to give effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding by applying the "Treasury Stock" and "If-Converted" methods. Outstanding stock options, restricted shares, performance shares, performance share units, and convertible notes represent the only potentially dilutive effects on the Company's weighted average shares.
	New Accounting Standards
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, an update to Foreign Currency Matters, which indicates that a cumulative translation adjustment is attached to the parent's investment in a foreign entity and should be released in a manner consistent with the derecognition guidance on investments in entities. Thus, the entire amount of the cumulative translation adjustment associated with the foreign entity would be released when there has been (i) a sale of a subsidiary or group of net assets within a foreign entity and the sale represents the substantially complete liquidation of the investment in the foreign entity; (ii) a loss of a controlling financial interest in an investment in a foreign entity; or (iii) a step acquisition for a foreign entity. The update does not change the requirement to release a pro-rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment of the foreign entity into earnings for a partial sale of an equity method investment in a foreign entity. The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and will not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements unless one or more of the derecognition events stated above occur after the effective date.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, which provides guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a NOL or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. This accounting standard update requires entities to assess whether to net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset as of the reporting date. The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company has determined these changes will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Note 2.  Cash and Cash Equivalents
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	147,728	$	137,439
	Cash and cash equivalents includes cash allocated for debt service reserves and for a capital project as required under certain debt agreements (see Note 7(a)(d) – Debt).

Receivables

Receivables	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Receivables	'
	Note 3.  Receivables
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Sale of pulp, energy and chemicals, net of allowance
	of $178 (2012 – $148)	$	124,579	$	133,764
	Value added tax		4,545		5,656
	Other non-trade receivables		6,769		5,730
		$	135,893	$	145,150
	The Company reviews the collectability of receivables at each reporting date. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts at an amount estimated to cover the potential losses on certain uninsured receivables. Any amounts that are determined to be uncollectible and uninsured are offset against the allowance. The allowance is based on the Company's evaluation of numerous factors, including the payment history and financial position of the debtors. For certain customers the Company receives a letter of credit prior to shipping its product.

Inventories

Inventories	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Note 4.  Inventories
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	66,356	$	60,688
	Finished goods		54,982		50,326
	Spare parts and other		49,570		44,965
		$	170,908	$	155,979

Property_Plant_and_Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Note 5.  Property, Plant and Equipment
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Land	$	34,421	$	33,210
	Buildings		194,676		177,198
	Production equipment and other		1,570,196		1,536,415
			1,799,293		1,746,823
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-760,662		-680,317
		$	1,038,631	$	1,066,506
	As at December 31, 2013, property, plant and equipment was net of $365,359 of unamortized government investment grants (2012 – $364,849).
	As at December 31, 2013, included in production equipment and other is equipment under capital leases which had gross amounts of $20,550 (2012 – $21,710), and accumulated depreciation of $9,447 (2012 – $11,042). During the year, production equipment and other totalling $2,112 was acquired under capital lease obligations (2012 – $2,648; 2011 – $3,872).
	The Company maintains industrial landfills on its premises for the disposal of waste, primarily from the mills' pulp processing activities. The mills have obligations under their landfill permits to decommission these disposal facilities pursuant to certain regulations. As at December 31, 2013, the Company had recorded $5,549 (2012 – $5,605) of asset retirement obligations in capital leases and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Accounts_Payable_and_Other

Accounts Payable and Other	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Payable and Other [Abstract]	'
Accounts Payable and Other	'
	Note 6.  Accounts Payable and Other
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Trade payables	$	44,289	$	39,896
	Accrued expenses		39,060		47,271
	Accrued interest		10,697		11,522
	Capital leases, current portion (Note 19)		2,254		2,582
	Current taxes payable (Note 9)		1,132		9,516
	Other		6,382		7,812
		$	103,814	$	118,599

Debt

Debt	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	Note 7. Debt
	Debt consists of the following:
		December 31,
		2013			2012
	Note payable to bank, included in a total loan credit facility of €828.0
	million to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill (a)	$	568,945		$	597,158
	Senior notes, interest at 9.50% accrued and payable semi-annually,
	unsecured (b)		336,382			284,361
	Credit agreement with a lender with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of C$40.0 million (c)		-			6,031
	Term bank facility for a project at the Stendal mill of €17.0 million (d)		21,179			-
	Loans payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of the Stendal mill (e)		52,117			48,283
	Investment loan agreement with a lender with respect to a project at
	the Rosenthal mill of €4.4 million (f)		749			2,152
	Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of €25.0 million (g)		-			-
	Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of €5.0 million (h)		-			-
			979,372			937,985
	Less:  current portion		-60,355			-60,205
	Debt, less current portion	$	919,017		$	877,780
	As of December 31, 2013, the maturities of debt are as follows:
	Matures	Amount
	2014	$	60,355
	2015		65,566
	2016		65,566
	2017		787,885
	2018		-
	Thereafter		-
		$	979,372
	Certain of the Company's debt instruments were issued under an indenture which, among other things, restricts its ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to make certain payments. These limitations are subject to specific exceptions. As at December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with the terms of the indenture.
	(a)Note payable to bank, included in a total loan facility of €828.0 million to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill ("Stendal Loan Facility"), interest at rates varying from Euribor plus 0.90% to Euribor plus 1.80% (rates on amounts of borrowing at December 31, 2013 range from 1.39% to 2.14%), principal due in required installments beginning September 30, 2006 until September 30, 2017, collateralized by the gross assets of the Stendal mill, with 48% and 32% guaranteed by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony-Anhalt, respectively, of up to €352.9 million of the outstanding principal, subject to a debt service reserve account ("DSRA") for purposes of paying amounts due in the following 12 months under the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility; payment of dividends is only permitted if certain cash flow requirements are met. See Note 17 – Derivative Transactions for a discussion of the Company's variable-to-fixed interest rate swap that was put in place to effectively fix the interest rate on the Stendal Loan Facility.
	Note 7. Debt (continued)
	On March 13, 2009, the Company finalized an agreement with its lenders to amend its Stendal Loan Facility. The amendment deferred approximately €164.0 million of scheduled principal payments until the maturity date, September 30, 2017.  The amendment also provided for a 100% cash sweep, referred to as the "Cash Sweep", of any cash, in excess of a €15.0 million working capital reserve and the Guarantee Amount, as discussed in Note 20(b) – Commitments and Contingencies, and other amounts as contemplated in the amendment, held by Stendal which will be used first to fund the DSRA to a level sufficient to service the amounts due and payable under the Stendal Loan Facility during the then following 12 months, which means the DSRA is "Fully Funded", and second to prepay the deferred principal amounts. As at December 31, 2013, the DSRA balance was €33.0 million and was not Fully Funded.
	On September 30, 2013, the Company amended the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility and Project Blue Mill facility (the "Facilities") (Note 7(d)). The amendment included waiving compliance with the annual debt service cover ratio and the senior debt cover ratio under the Facilities until and including December 31, 2013; amending the senior debt cover ratio so that it now deducts the DSRA and other specified cash above a stipulated threshold in the calculation of senior debt; providing that a failure to satisfy the annual debt service cover ratio under the Facilities would only be an event of default when amounts in the DSRA plus certain cash reserves are below a specified threshold; and revising the calculation of amounts required to cure a senior debt cover ratio default. Pursuant to the amended agreement the Company made a capital investment of $20,000 in Stendal. See Note 15 – Noncontrolling Interest for details of the investment.
	(b)On November 17, 2010, the Company completed a private offering of $300,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2017 ("Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes were issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount. The Senior Notes will mature on December 1, 2017 and bear interest at 9.50% which is accrued and payable semi-annually.
	In July 2013, the Company issued $50,000 in aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes. The additional notes were priced at 104.50% plus accrued interest from June 1, 2013. The net proceeds from the offering were $50,500, after deducting the underwriter's discounts, offering expenses and accrued interest. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay the revolving credit facilities of the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and for general corporate purposes.
	The Senior Notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Senior Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to any current or future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Senior Notes are effectively junior in right of payment to all borrowings of the Company's restricted subsidiaries, including borrowings under the Company's credit agreements which are secured by certain assets of its restricted subsidiaries.
	The Company may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes, upon not less than 30 days' or more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 104.75% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2014, 102.38% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2015, and 100.00% beginning on December 1, 2016 and at any time thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
	(c)Credit agreement with respect to a revolving credit facility of up to C$40.0 million for the Celgar mill. The credit facility matures May 2016. Borrowings under the credit facility are collateralized by the mill's inventory and receivables and are restricted by a borrowing base calculated on the mill's inventory and receivables. Canadian dollar denominated amounts bear interest at bankers acceptance plus 1.75% or Canadian prime plus 0.25%. U.S. dollar denominated amounts bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75% or U.S. base plus 0.25%. As at December 31, 2013, C$1.7 million of this facility was supporting letters of credit and approximately C$33.3 million was available.
	Note 7. Debt (continued)
	(d)A €17.0 million amortizing term facility to partially finance a project, referred to as "Project Blue Mill". The facility, 80% of which is guaranteed by the State of Saxony-Anhalt, bears interest at a rate of Euribor plus 3.5% per annum. The interest period for the facility, at the choice of the Company, will be of one, three or six months duration and interest is paid on the last day of the interest period selected. The facility, together with accrued interest, is scheduled to mature in September 2017. The facility will be repaid semi-annually, commencing September 30, 2013, is collateralized by the gross assets of the Stendal mill, and will be non-recourse to Mercer Inc. As at December 31, 2013, the facility was accruing interest at a rate of 3.84%.
	As part of this term facility, the Company was required to open an investment account with the lender for the purpose of managing project costs and is required to deposit all funding associated with Project Blue Mill in this account. As at December 31, 2013, the balance in the investment account was $2,618.
	(e)Loans of €26.8 million payable by the Stendal mill to its noncontrolling shareholder bear interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum and are due in 2017, provided that the Project Blue Mill facility (Note 7(d)) and the Stendal Loan Facility (Note 7(a)) have been fully repaid on such date. The loans are unsecured, subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill, non-recourse to the Company and its restricted subsidiaries. One of the loans, which has a principal amount of €0.4 million, may be repaid prior to October 1, 2017 if the DSRA has been Fully Funded for the first time and this loan is subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill only until such time as the DSRA is Fully Funded for the first time.
	As at December 31, 2013, accrued interest on these loans was €11.1 million (2012 – €9.9 million).
	(f)A four-year amortizing investment loan agreement with a lender relating to the wash press project at the Rosenthal mill with a total facility of €4.4 million bearing interest at the rate of Euribor plus 2.75% that matures February 2014. Borrowings under this agreement are secured by the wash press equipment. As at December 31, 2013, the balance outstanding was accruing interest at a rate of 3.09%.
	(g)A €25.0 million working capital facility at the Rosenthal mill that matures in October 2016. Borrowings under the facility are collateralized by the mill's inventory and receivables and bear interest at Euribor plus 3.50%. As at December 31, 2013, approximately €0.6 million of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately €24.4 million available.
		(h)		A €5.0 million facility at the Rosenthal mill that matures in December 2015. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the rate of the three-month Euribor plus 3.50% and are secured by certain land at the Rosenthal mill. As at December 31, 2013 approximately €1.1 million of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately €3.9 million available.

Pension_and_Other_PostRetireme

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations [Abstract]	'
Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations	'
	Note 8. Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations
	Included in pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations are amounts related to the Company's Celgar and Rosenthal mills. The largest component of this obligation is with respect to the Celgar mill which maintains a defined benefit pension plan and post-retirement benefit plans for certain employees ("Celgar Plans").
	Pension benefits are based on employees' earnings and years of service. The Celgar Plans are funded by contributions from the Company based on actuarial estimates and statutory requirements. Pension contributions during the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $2,878 (2012 –  $2,941).
	Effective December 31, 2008, the defined benefit plan was closed to new members.  In addition, the defined benefit service accrual ceased on December 31, 2008, and members began to receive pension benefits, at a fixed contractual rate, under a new defined contribution plan effective January 1, 2009. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company made contributions of $773 (2012 – $795) to this plan.
	Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		2013
		Pension		Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations			Total
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2012	$	48,639	$	28,314		$	76,953
	Service cost		137		753			890
	Interest cost		1,836		1,108			2,944
	Benefit payments		-2,772		-767			-3,539
	Special termination benefits		277		-			277
	Actuarial losses (gains)		-1,472		943			-529
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		-3,079		-1,893			-4,972
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2013		43,566		28,458			72,024
	Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2012		33,647		-			33,647
	Actual returns		4,686		-			4,686
	Contributions		2,111		767			2,878
	Benefit payments		-2,772		-767			-3,539
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		-2,300		-			-2,300
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2013		35,372		-			35,372
	Funded status, December 31, 2013 (1)	$	-8,194	$	-28,458		$	-36,652
	Components of the net benefit cost recognized
	Service cost	$	137	$	753		$	890
	Interest cost		1,836		1,108			2,944
	Expected return on plan assets		-2,133		-			-2,133
	Special termination benefits		277		-			277
	Amortization of unrecognized items		1,439		116			1,555
	Net benefit costs	$	1,556	$	1,977		$	3,533
	(1)The total of $36,796 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation.
	Note 8.  Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
	Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2012 is as follows:
		2012
		Pension		Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations			Total
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2011	$	46,413	$	25,681		$	72,094
	Service cost		144		725			869
	Interest cost		1,961		1,126			3,087
	Benefit payments		-2,449		-777			-3,226
	Actuarial losses (gains)		1,534		980			2,514
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		1,036		579			1,615
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2012		48,639		28,314			76,953
	Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2011		30,789		-			30,789
	Actual returns		2,449		-			2,449
	Contributions		2,164		777			2,941
	Benefit payments		-2,449		-777			-3,226
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		694		-			694
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2012		33,647		-			33,647
	Funded status, December 31, 2012 (1)	$	-14,992	$	-28,314		$	-43,306
	Components of the net benefit cost recognized
	Service cost	$	144	$	725		$	869
	Interest cost		1,961		1,126			3,087
	Expected return on plan assets		-2,105		-			-2,105
	Amortization of unrecognized items		1,453		7			1,460
	Net benefit costs	$	1,453	$	1,858		$	3,311
	(1)The total of $43,450 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation.
	The Company anticipates that it will make contributions to the Celgar Plans of approximately $1,606 in 2014. Estimated future benefit payments under the Celgar Plans are as follows:
							Amount
	2014						$	3,656
	2015							3,824
2016							3,943
2017							4,052
2018							4,173
2019 – 2023							22,311
Note 8.  Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized income, net of tax of $4,636 in other comprehensive income (2012 – loss of $808; 2011 – loss of $11,203). As at December 31, 2013, the pension related accumulated other comprehensive income balance of $16,414 (2012 – $21,050) is primarily a result of net actuarial losses. These amounts have been stated net of tax. The Celgar Plans do not have any net transition asset or obligation recognized as a reclassification adjustment of other comprehensive income. The amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income which is expected to be recognized in 2014 is approximately $805 of net actuarial losses. There are no plan assets that are expected to be returned to the Company in 2014.
Summary of key assumptions:
	December 31,
	2013		2012
Benefit obligations
Discount rate		4.50%		4.00%
Rate of compensation increase		2.75%		2.75%
Net benefit cost for year ended
Discount rate		4.00%		4.25%
Rate of compensation increase		2.75%		2.75%
Expected rate of return on plan assets		6.60%		6.75%
Assumed health care cost trend rate at
Initial health care cost trend rate		8.00%		8.50%
Annual rate of decline in trend rate		0.50%		0.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate		4.50%		4.50%
Medical services plan premiums trend rate		4.50%		6.00%
The expected rate of return on plan assets is a management estimate based on, among other factors, historical long-term returns, expected asset mix and active management premium.
The discount rate assumption is adjusted annually to reflect the rates available on high-quality debt instruments, with a duration that is expected to match the timing of expected pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations. High-quality debt instruments are corporate bonds with a rating of "AA" or better.
A one-percentage point change in assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effect on the post-retirement benefit obligations:
	31-Dec-13					31-Dec-12
	1%		1%			1%			1%
	Increase		Decrease			Increase			Decrease
Effect on total service and interest rate components	$	51	$	-53		$	50		$	-53
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	$	927	$	-896		$	957		$	-921
Asset allocation of funded plans:
			Target			2013			2012
Equity securities				60%			64%			58%
Debt securities				40%			36%			42%
Cash and cash equivalents				0%			0%			0%
							100%			100%
Note 8.  Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
Investment Objective
The investment objective for the Celgar Plans is to sufficiently diversify invested plan assets to maintain a reasonable level of risk without imprudently sacrificing the return on the invested funds, and ultimately to achieve a long-term total rate of return, net of fees and expenses, at least equal to the long-term interest rate assumptions used for funding actuarial valuations. To achieve this objective, the Company's overall investment strategy is to maintain an investment allocation mix of long-term growth investments (equities) and fixed income investments (debt securities). Investment allocation targets have been established by asset class as summarized above. The asset allocation targets are set after considering the nature of the liabilities, long-term return expectations, the risks associated with key asset classes, inflation and interest rates and related management fees and expenses. In addition, the Celgar Plans' investment strategy seeks to minimize risk beyond legislated requirements by constraining the investment managers' investment options. There are a number of specific constraints based on investment type, but they all have the general purpose of ensuring that the investments are fully diversified and that risk is appropriately managed. For example, no more than 10% of the book value of the assets can be invested in any one entity or group, investments in any one entity cannot exceed 30% of the voting shares and all equity holdings must be listed on a public exchange. Reviews of the investment objectives, key assumptions and the independent investment managers are performed periodically.
Celgar Plans' asset fair value measurements at December 31, 2013:
Asset category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs			Significant Unobservable Inputs			Total
Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds	$	22,458	$	-		$	-		$	22,458
Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund		12,821		-			-			12,821
Cash		93		-			-			93
Total assets	$	35,372	$	-		$	-		$	35,372
Concentrations of Risk in the Celgar Plans' Assets
The Company has reviewed the Celgar Plans' investments and determined that they are allocated based on the specific investment manager's stated investment strategy with only slight over- or under-weightings within any specific category, and that those investments are within the constraints that have been set by the Company. Those constraints include a limitation on the value that can be invested in any one entity or group and the investment category targets noted above. In addition, we have two independent investment managers. The Company has concluded that there are no significant concentrations of risk.
Multiemployer Plan
The Company participates in a multiemployer plan for the hourly-paid employees at the Celgar mill. The contributions to the plan are determined based on an amount per hour worked pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement. The Company has no current or future contribution obligations in excess of the contractual contributions. The contributions during the year ended December 31, 2013 totaled $2,635 (2012 – $2,644; 2011 – $2,450).  Plan details are included in the following table:
			Expiration
			Date of		Are the Company's
	Provincially		Collective		Contributions Greater Than
	Registered		Bargaining		5% of Total Contributions
Legal name	Plan Number		Agreement		2013			2012
			April 30,
The Pulp and Paper Industry Pension Plan	P085324		2017		Yes			Yes

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Note 9.  Income Taxes
	The Company's effective income tax rate can be affected by many factors, including but not limited to, changes in the mix of earnings in tax jurisdictions with differing statutory rates, changes in corporate structure, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, the result of audit examinations of previously filed tax returns and changes in tax laws. The asset and liability approach is used to recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities.
	The Company and/or one or more of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the United States, Germany and Canada. Currently, the Company does not anticipate that the expiration of the statute of limitations or the completion of audits in the next fiscal year will result in liabilities for uncertain income tax positions that are materially different than the amounts accrued or disclosed as of December 31, 2013. However, this belief could change as tax years are examined by taxing authorities, the timing of those examinations, if any, are uncertain at this time. During 2013, the German tax authorities completed examinations of 2011 for all but two entities.  For one of the entities 2008, 2009, and 2010 tax years are still being reviewed and the review is expected to be completed in 2014.  For the other entity the 2010 examination is complete. The Company believes that it has adequately provided for any reasonable foreseeable outcomes related to its tax audits and that any settlement will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated results. However, there can be no assurances as to the possible outcomes. The Company is generally not subject to U.S. or Canadian income tax examinations for tax years before 2010 and 2008, respectively.
	A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of total gross unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
		2013		2012
	Balance at January 1	$	82,934	$	1,427
	Reduction prior year tax positions		-82,934		-1,427
	Addition of current year tax positions		-		82,934
	Balance at December 31	$	-	$	82,934
	The liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheet related to unrecognized tax benefits was $nil as at December 31, 2013 (2012 - $8,605). The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax benefit (provision) in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized approximately $nil in interest and penalties (2012 – $134).
	During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company resolved an outstanding issue with the German tax authorities. As a result, the Company reduced its unrecognized tax benefit from $8,605 to $nil and recorded a current tax expense of $4,270. Additionally, the Company increased its valuation allowance by $4,137, thereby reducing the deferred tax asset and increasing the deferred tax expense by this amount.
	The provision for current income taxes consists primarily of non-U.S. taxes for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
	Note 9.  Income Taxes (continued)
	Differences between the U.S. Federal Statutory and the Company's effective rates are as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	U.S. Federal statutory rate		35%		35%		35%
	U.S. Federal statutory rate on (income) loss before income
	taxes and noncontrolling interest	$	5,797	$	1,439	$	-25,971
	Tax differential on foreign income		736		874		7,892
	Effect of foreign earnings		-945		-8,382		-13,788
	Valuation allowance		-17,040		-17,529		12,897
	Tax benefit of partnership structure		5,942		6,785		7,285
	Pension adjustment		-1,206		174		2,595
	Non-taxable foreign subsidiaries		1,696		1,897		5,601
	Research and development expense		1,319		3,436		-
	Prior year adjustments		-5,749		-		-
	Other		254		1,927		4,457
		$	-9,196	$	-9,379	$	968
	Comprised of:
	Current	$	2,286	$	-9,531	$	-2,341
	Deferred		-11,482		152		3,309
		$	-9,196	$	-9,379	$	968
	Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are composed of the following:
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	German tax loss carryforwards	$	123,735	$	100,251
	U.S. tax loss carryforwards		44,718		36,090
	Canadian tax loss carryforwards		11,606		40,992
	Basis difference between income tax and financial reporting with
	respect to operating pulp mills		-64,252		-71,191
	Derivative financial instruments		13,060		18,760
	Long-term debt		2,204		2,066
	Payable and accrued expenses		578		-257
	Deferred pension liability		9,605		10,810
	Capital leases		2,574		2,816
	Research and development expense pool		4,573		3,523
	Other		1,400		1,323
			149,801		145,183
	Valuation allowance		-140,768		-123,728
	Net deferred tax asset	$	9,033	$	21,455
	Comprised of:
	Deferred income tax asset – current	$	6,326	$	5,887
	Deferred income tax asset – non-current		17,157		23,159
	Deferred income tax liability – non-current		-14,450		-7,591
	Net deferred tax asset	$	9,033	$	21,455
	Note 9.  Income Taxes (continued)
	The Company's German tax loss carryforward amount includes corporate and trade tax losses totalling approximately $528,700 at December 31, 2013 which have no expiration date. In addition, the Company has approximately $162,700 of German interest carryforwards which have no expiration date and can be used to reduce taxable income, with certain limitations. The Company's U.S. loss carryforwards and tax credits amount is approximately $125,700 at December 31, 2013, of which approximately $6,200 and $119,500, if not used, will expire in the tax years ending 2019 to 2023 and 2024 to 2033,  respectively. The Company has U.S. foreign tax credits of approximately $700 which begin to expire in 2030. The Company's Canadian tax loss carryforward amount is approximately $43,800 at December 31, 2013 of which approximately $12,300 will expire in 2015 and approximately $31,500 will begin to expire in the tax year ending 2029, if not used. The Company has Canadian investment tax credits for scientific research and experimental development of approximately $4,600 which begin to expire in the taxation year 2030.
	At each reporting period, the Company assesses whether it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized, based on the review of all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, estimates of future taxable income, past operating results and prudent and feasible tax planning strategies.  The carrying value of our deferred tax assets reflects our expected ability to generate sufficient future taxable income in certain tax jurisdictions to utilize these deferred income tax benefits.   Significant judgment is required when evaluating this positive and negative evidence, specifically the Company’s estimates of future taxable income. For example, the relative impact of negative and positive evidence of profitability where a company has cumulative losses in recent years. The weight given to negative and positive evidence is commensurate with the extent to which it can be objectively verified. Operating results during the most recent three-year period are generally given more weight than expectations of future profitability, which are inherently uncertain.
	The following table summarizes the changes in valuation allowances related to net deferred tax assets:
		2013		2012
	Balance at January 1	$	123,728	$	106,199
	Additions (reversals)
United States		10,134		477
Canada		12,324		15,844
Germany		-5,681		-71
The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates		263		1,279
Balance at December 31	$	140,768	$	123,728
For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company increased its valuation allowance for certain Canadian and U.S. entities and decreased its valuation allowance for a German entity as after weighing all available evidence it concluded that it was more likely than not that the deferred tax assets for the Canadian and U.S. entities will not be realized and the deferred tax assets for the German entity will be realized. These assessments were based on historical and forecast taxable income, income tax strategies, and the best estimates of the timing of movements in temporary differences. The Company's accounting for the German deferred tax assets represents its current best estimate. It is reasonably possible that changes in the Company's current estimates could have a material effect on the Company's financial statements and results of operations in the near term.
The Company's policy is to indefinitely reinvest undistributed earnings of Mercer Inc.'s foreign subsidiaries. Accordingly, no provision for U.S. income taxes has been made for such undistributed earnings.

Share_Capital

Share Capital	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share Capital [Abstract]	'
Share Capital	'
	Note 10. Share Capital
	Common shares
	The Company has authorized 200,000,000 common shares (2012 – 200,000,000) with a par value of $1 per share.
	As at December 31, 2013, the Company had 55,853,704 common shares (2012 – 55,815,704)  issued and outstanding. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company issued 38,000 restricted shares to directors of the Company.
	Preferred shares
	The Company has authorized 50,000,000 preferred shares (2012 – 50,000,000) with $1 par value issuable in series, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as Series A. The preferred shares may be issued in one or more series and with such designations and preferences for each series as shall be stated in the resolutions providing for the designation and issue of each such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company. The Board of Directors is authorized by the Company's articles of incorporation to determine the voting, dividend, redemption and liquidation preferences pertaining to each such series. As at December 31, 2013, no preferred shares had been issued by the Company.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation
	In June 2010, the Company adopted a new stock incentive plan (the "2010 Plan") which provides for options, restricted stock rights, restricted shares, performance shares, performance share units ("PSUs") and stock appreciation rights to be awarded to employees, consultants and non-employee directors.  During the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, there were no issued and outstanding restricted stock rights or stock appreciation rights. As at December 31, 2013, after factoring in all allocated shares, there remain approximately 1.1 million common shares available for grant pursuant to the 2010 Plan.
	Performance Shares and PSUs
	Performance shares are common shares granted to an employee which have restrictive conditions, such as the ability to sell the shares, until the Company and the grantee achieve certain performance objectives. PSUs comprise rights to receive common shares at a future date that are contingent on the Company and the grantee achieving certain performance objectives. The performance objective period is generally three years or less.
	The fair value of the performance shares and PSUs is recorded as compensation expense over the vesting period. The fair value is determined based upon the targeted number of shares awarded and the quoted price of the Company's shares at the reporting date. The target number of shares is determined using management's best estimate. The final determination of the number of shares to be granted or unrestricted will be made by the Company's Board of Directors. For the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized an expense of $2,882 related to the PSUs (2012 – $1,546; 2011 – $1,274). As at December 31, 2013, there are no performance shares outstanding.
	The following table summarizes PSU activity during the year:
		Number of PSUs
		2013	2012	2011
	Outstanding at January 1	786,129	795,312	534,783
	Granted	40,499	55,478	812,575
	Vested and issued	-	-	-474,728
	Cancelled	-	-	-60,055
	Forfeited	-35,196	-64,661	-17,263
	Outstanding at December 31	791,432	786,129	795,312
	Note 11. Stock-Based Compensation (continued)
	Restricted Shares
	The fair value of restricted shares is determined based upon the number of shares granted and the quoted price of the Company's shares on the date of grant. Restricted shares generally vest over one year; however, 200,000 restricted shares granted during the year ended December 31, 2011 vest in equal amounts over a five-year period commencing in 2012. The fair value of the restricted shares is recorded as compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period.
	Expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $692 (2012 – $1,070; 2011 – $1,389). As at December 31, 2013, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock amounted to approximately $511 (2012 – $937), which will be amortized over the remaining vesting periods.
	The following table summarizes restricted share activity during the year:
		Number of Restricted Shares
		2013	2012	2011
	Outstanding at January 1	196,500	238,000	56,000
	Granted	38,000	36,500	238,000
	Vested	-76,500	-78,000	-56,000
	Outstanding at December 31	158,000	196,500	238,000
	Stock Options
	The following table summarizes the status of options outstanding at December 31, 2013:
	Outstanding Options						Exercisable Options
	Exercise Price		Number	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number	Weighted Average Exercise Price
	(U.S. dollars)				(U.S. dollars)			(U.S. dollars)
	$	7.30	30,000	1.57	$	7.30	30,000	$	7.30
	$	7.92	45,000	1.69	$	7.92	45,000	$	7.92
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, no options were granted,  exercised or cancelled. During the year ended December 31, 2013, 100,000 options expired (2012 – nil; 2011 – 15,000). The aggregate intrinsic value of options is calculated as the difference between the quoted market price for the Company's common stock as at December 31, 2013, and the exercise price of the stock options for those options where the exercise price is below the quoted market price. As at December 31, 2013, the Company had 75,000 options (2012 – 100,000; 2011 –  100,000) with an exercise price below the quoted market price resulting in an aggregate intrinsic value of $172 (2012 – $151; 2011 –  $45). The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options.
	Stock compensation expense recognized for the year ended December 31, 2013 was $nil (2012 – $nil; 2011 – $nil).

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Share_Attr

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders [Abstract]	'
Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders	'
	Note 12. Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
	– basic	$	-26,375	$	-15,670	$	69,699
	Interest on convertible notes, net of tax		-		-		1,110
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
	– diluted	$	-26,375	$	-15,670	$	70,809
	Net income (loss) per share attributable to common
	shareholders
	Basic	$	-0.47	$	-0.28	$	1.39
	Diluted	$	-0.47	$	-0.28	$	1.24
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
	Basic(1)		55,673,838		55,596,761		50,116,982
	Effect of dilutive shares:
	Performance shares and PSUs		-		-		544,853
	Restricted shares		-		-		87,923
	Stock options and awards		-		-		57,483
	Convertible notes		-		-		6,178,778
	Diluted		55,673,838		55,596,761		56,986,019
	________
	(1) The basic weighted average number of shares excludes 158,000 restricted shares which have been issued, but have not vested as at December 31, 2013 (2012 – 196,500 restricted shares; 2011 – 238,000 restricted shares).
	The calculation of diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders does not assume the exercise of any instruments that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income (loss) per share.  The following table summarizes the instruments excluded from the calculation of net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders because they were anti-dilutive.
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012			2011
	Stock options and awards		75,000		175,000		-
	PSUs		791,432		786,129		-
	Restricted shares		158,000		196,500		-

Restructuring_Expenses

Restructuring Expenses	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
[RestructuringChargesAbstract]	'
Restructuring charges	'
	Note 13. Restructuring Expenses
	In July 2013, the Company announced a workforce reduction at the Celgar mill. The planned reduction will affect both hourly and salaried employees and will reduce the workforce by approximately 85 employees over the next five years, with the majority of employees affected in 2013 and over the next six months. In connection with implementing this workforce reduction, during the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded restructuring expenses of $5,029 for severance and other personnel expenses, such as termination benefits. The Company expects to incur approximately $600 of additional expenses in 2014.  As at December 31, 2013, the Company had a liability for these restructuring expenses of $2,898 in accounts payable and other.
	In 2013, the Company restructured the management team at the Stendal mill.  In connection with this restructuring, the Company recorded expenses of $1,386 for severance and other personnel expenses, such as termination benefits. As at December 31, 2013, the Company had a liability for these restructuring expenses of $1,096 in accounts payable and other.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block]	'
	Note 14. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
	The components of accumulated other comprehensive income are as follows:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012
	Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	47,756	$	49,489
	Unrecognized losses and prior service costs
	related to defined benefit plans		-16,414		-21,050
	Unrealized gains on marketable securities		128		138
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	31,470	$	28,577

Noncontrolling_Interest

Noncontrolling Interest	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
[NoncontrollingInterestAbstract]	'
Noncontrolling Interest	'
	Note 15. Noncontrolling Interest
	In September 2013, the Company made a $20,000 capital investment in the Stendal mill, resulting in an 8.1% increase in the Company's equity ownership in the mill as it went from 74.9% to 83.0%. The increase in equity ownership was accounted for as an equity transaction and as a result, the noncontrolling deficit was reduced by $9,974, and the paid-in capital, which includes legal fees associated with the transaction, was reduced by $10,118.

Business_Segment_Information

Business Segment Information	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Business Segment Information	'
	Note 16.  Business Segment Information
	The Company has three operating segments, the individual pulp mills that are aggregated into one reportable business segment, market pulp. Accordingly, the results presented are those of the one reportable business segment.
	The following table presents net sales to external customers by geographic area based on location of the customer:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Germany	$	309,399	$	293,733	$	357,106
	China		300,827		295,797		326,610
	Other European Union countries (1)		224,988		216,846		244,884
	Italy		65,654		55,443		71,695
	Other Asia		49,855		42,692		42,970
	North America		30,404		61,103		96,520
	Other countries		2,748		2,099		1,146
			983,875		967,713		1,140,931
	Energy and chemical revenues		92,198		92,966		94,758
	Third party transportation revenues		12,312		12,057		16,275
		$	1,088,385	$	1,072,736	$	1,251,964
	________
	(1)Not including Germany or Italy; includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.
	The following table presents total long-lived assets by geographic area based on location of the asset:
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Germany	$	843,777	$	839,535
	Canada		194,854		226,971
		$	1,038,631	$	1,066,506
	In 2013, two customers at a number of their individual mills accounted for 10% and 11%, respectively of the Company's total pulp sales (2012 – one customer at a number of its individual mills accounted for 11%; 2011 – no single customer accounted for 10% or more).

Derivative_Transactions

Derivative Transactions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Transactions [Abstract]	'
Derivative Transactions	'
	Note 17. Derivative Transactions
	The Company is exposed to certain market risks relating to its ongoing business. The Company seeks to manage these risks through internal risk management policies as well as, from time to time, the use of derivatives.  The Company currently manages its interest rate risk with the use of a derivative instrument. The derivatives are measured at fair value with changes in fair value immediately recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	Derivative assets are presented in prepaid expenses and other, and derivative liabilities are presented in interest rate derivative liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Interest Rate Derivative
	During 2004, the Company entered into certain variable-to-fixed interest rate swaps in connection with the Stendal mill with respect to an aggregate maximum amount of approximately €612.6 million of the principal amount of the indebtedness under the Stendal Loan Facility. Under the remaining interest rate swap, the Company pays a fixed rate and receives a floating rate with the interest payments being calculated on a notional amount. Currently, the contract has an aggregate notional amount of €306.8 million at a fixed interest rate of 5.28% and it matures in October 2017 (which for the most part matches the maturity of the Stendal Loan Facility).
	The interest rate derivative contract is with a bank that is part of a banking syndicate that holds the Stendal Loan Facility and the Company does not anticipate non-performance by the bank.
	Pulp Price Derivatives
	In May 2012, the Company entered into a fixed price pulp swap contract with a bank. Under the terms of the contract, 5,000 metric tonnes ("MT") of pulp per month was fixed at a price of 915 U.S. dollars per MT.  The contract matured in December 2012. In November 2012, the Company entered into two additional contracts. Under the terms of the contracts, 3,000 MT of pulp per month is fixed at prices which range from 880 U.S. dollars to 890 U.S. dollars per MT. The contracts matured in December 2013.
	Energy Derivatives
	The Company is also subject to price risk for electricity used in its manufacturing operations. The Company enters into electricity forward sales contracts when it sees an opportunity to sell forward electricity at opportunistic rates. No electricity forward sales contracts were entered into in 2013, 2012 or 2011. Although the Company does not currently have plans to enter into such transactions, the Company may enter into similar electricity derivative contracts in the future.
	Foreign Exchange Derivatives
	Many of the Company's transactions are denominated in foreign currencies, primarily the Euro and Canadian dollar. As a result of these transactions the Company and its subsidiaries have financial risk that the value of the Company's financial instruments will vary due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
	The Company did not enter into foreign exchange derivatives in 2013, 2012 and 2011.
	Note 17. Derivative Transactions (continued)
	Credit Risk
	The Company's credit risk is primarily attributable to cash held in bank accounts and receivables. The Company maintains cash balances in foreign financial institutions in excess of insured limits. The Company limits its credit exposure on cash held in bank accounts by periodically investing cash in excess of short-term operating requirements and debt obligations in low risk government bonds, or similar debt instruments. The Company's credit risk associated with the sale of pulp products is managed through establishing long-term contractual relationships with its customers, setting credit limits, the purchase of credit insurance and for certain customers a letter of credit is received prior to shipping its product. Concentrations of credit risk on the sale of pulp products are with customers and agents based in Germany, China, Italy and the United States.
	The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents of $147,728 and receivables of $135,893 recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheet, net of any allowances for losses, represents the Company's maximum exposure to credit risk.
	The following table shows the derivative gains and losses by instrument type as they are recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations:
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	22,476	$	2,204	$	-1,974
	Pulp price derivative contracts		-2,767		2,608		-
		$	19,709	$	4,812	$	-1,974

Financial_Instruments

Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments	'
	Note 18. Financial Instruments
	The fair value of financial instruments as at December 31 is summarized as follows:
		2013				2012
		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	147,728	$	147,728	$	137,439	$	137,439
	Marketable securities	$	217	$	217	$	243	$	243
	Receivables	$	135,893	$	135,893	$	145,150	$	145,150
	Pulp price derivative contracts – asset	$	-	$	-	$	982	$	982
	Accounts payable and other	$	103,814	$	103,814	$	118,599	$	118,599
	Debt	$	979,372	$	980,982	$	937,985	$	922,951
	Interest rate derivative contract – liability	$	46,517	$	46,517	$	66,819	$	66,819
	The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable and other approximates the fair value due to the immediate or short-term maturity of these financial instruments. The carrying value of receivables approximates the fair value due to their short-term nature and historical collectability. Marketable securities are recorded at fair value based on recent transactions. See the Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure section below for details on how the fair value of the pulp price derivative contracts, interest rate derivative contract and debt was determined.
	Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure
	The fair value methodologies and, as a result, the fair value of the Company's marketable securities, debt and derivative instruments are determined based on the fair value hierarchy provided in the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification, and are as follows:
	Note 18. Financial Instruments (continued)
	Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.
	Level 2 – Valuations based on observable inputs in active markets for similar assets and liabilities, other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted commodity prices or interest or currency exchange rates.
	Level 3 – Valuations based on significant unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity, such as discounted cash flow methodologies based on internal cash flow forecasts.
	The Company classified its marketable securities within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy because quoted prices are available in an active market for the exchange-traded equities.
	The Company's interest rate and pulp price derivatives are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy, as they are valued using internal models that use as their basis readily observable market inputs, such as forward interest rates, yield curves observable at specified intervals and commodity price curves. The observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources.  In addition, the Company considered the risk of non-performance of the obligor, which in some cases reflects the Company's own credit risk.  The counterparty to its interest rate and pulp price derivatives are multi-national financial institutions.
	The Company's debt is recognized at amortized cost. The fair value of debt classified as Level 2 reflects recent market transactions and discounted cash flow estimates.  Discounted cash flow models use observable market inputs taking into consideration variables such as interest rate changes, comparative securities, subordination discount and credit rating changes. The fair value of debt classified as Level 3 is valued using discounted cash flow models or select comparable transactions, which require significant management estimates. These estimates are developed using available market, historical, and forecast data, including taking into account variables such as recent financing activities, the capital structure, and the lack of marketability of such debt.
	The following table presents a summary of the Company's outstanding financial instruments and their estimated fair values under the hierarchy defined in Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB Accounting Standards Codification:
		Fair value measurements at December 31, 2013 using:
	Description	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets
	Marketable securities	$	217	$	-	$	-	$	217
	Liabilities
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	-	$	46,517	$	-	$	46,517
	Debt		-		367,405		613,577		980,982
		$	-	$	413,922	$	613,577	$	1,027,499
		Fair value measurements at December 31, 2012 using:
	Description	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets
	Marketable securities	$	243	$	-	$	-	$	243
	Pulp price derivative contracts		-		982		-		982
		$	243	$	982	$	-	$	1,225
	Liabilities
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	-	$	66,819	$	-	$	66,819
	Debt		-		308,894		614,057		922,951
		$	-	$	375,713	$	614,057	$	989,770

Lease_Commitments

Lease Commitments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'
Lease Commitments	'
	Note 19.  Lease Commitments
	Minimum lease payments, primarily for various vehicles, and plant and equipment under capital and non-cancellable operating leases and the present value of net minimum payments at December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		Capital		Operating
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2,406	$	2,280
	2015		2,414		2,076
	2016		2,263		1,295
	2017		1,511		1,239
	2018		880		1,237
	Thereafter		3,111		929
	Total		12,585	$	9,056
	Less: imputed interest		1,771
	Total present value of minimum capitalized payments		10,814
	Less: current portion of capital lease obligations		2,254
	Long-term capital lease obligations	$	8,560
	Rent expense under operating leases was $3,497 for the year ended December 31, 2013 (2012 – $3,866; 2011 – $4,611). The current portion of the capital lease obligations is included in accounts payable and other and the long-term portion is included in capital leases and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	Note 20. Commitments and Contingencies
		(a)	At December 31, 2013, the Company has liabilities for environmental conservation expenditures which include asset retirement obligations of $5,549 (2012 - $5,605) and wastewater fees of $6,929 (2012 - $8,765). Management believes the accrued amounts recorded are sufficient.
		(b)	Pursuant to an arbitration proceeding with the general construction contractor (the noncontrolling shareholder) of the Stendal mill regarding certain warranty claims, the Company acted upon a bank guarantee for defect liability on civil works that was about to expire as provided in the engineering, procurement, and construction contract. On January 28, 2011, the Company received approximately €10.0 million ($13,606) (the "Guarantee Amount"), which is intended to compensate the Company for remediation work that is required at the Stendal mill, but it was less than the amount claimed by the Company under the arbitration. Most of the claims have been settled; however, the arbitration proceeding is ongoing, and there is no certainty that the Company will be successful with its remaining claim.
	The €10.0 million ($13,606) was initially recognized as an increase in cash and a corresponding increase in accounts payable and other. As civil works remediation steps are agreed to with the noncontrolling shareholder an agreed to portion of the payable is reversed with the offset recorded in operating costs to offset the remediation expenditures. As at December 31, 2013, the Company had Guarantee Amount proceeds of $2,437 remaining in accounts payable and other.
	Note 20. Commitments and Contingencies (continued)
		(c)	The Company is involved in a property transfer tax dispute with respect to the Celgar mill and certain other legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Celgar had previously paid the property transfer tax assessment of approximately C$4.5 million ($4,200). During the second quarter of 2013, the Company lost its Supreme Court of British Columbia appeal of the property transfer tax assessment and as a result the Company filed an application to seek leave to appeal to the British Columbia Court of Appeal. In September 2013, the leave to appeal was granted to the Company and a hearing date with the Court of Appeal is expected in the first half of 2014.  While the outcome of any legal actions and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, it is the opinion of management that the outcome of any such claim which is pending or threatened, either individually or on a combined basis, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
		(d)	In 2012, as a result of a regular tax field audit for the Stendal mill, German public authorities commenced a preliminary investigation into a past and then current managers of the mill relating to whether certain settlement amounts received by the Stendal mill in 2007, 2010 and 2011 from the main contractor under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction Contract for the construction of the Stendal mill should have reduced the assessment base for the original investment subsidies granted to the mill by German authorities. The payments were made by the contractor to the Stendal mill to settle certain warranty, performance and remediation claims that the Stendal mill made against the contractor after completion of mill construction in 2004. The amounts currently under review aggregate approximately €8.3 million ($11,400). Investment subsidies received by the Stendal mill were generally based upon a percentage of the assessment base for subsidies of the mill. If the settlement payments received by the Stendal mill result in a reduction of the assessment base for subsidies under applicable German rules there could be a proportionate reduction in the investment subsidies and the difference could be repayable by the Stendal mill. The Stendal mill believes that it has properly recorded the settlement amounts received from the contractor and that the same do not reduce the assessment base for subsidies of the mill. While it is not reasonably possible to predict the outcome of the legal action and claim, it is the opinion of management that the outcome will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.
		(e)	The Company is subject to regulations that require the handling and disposal of asbestos in a prescribed manner if a property undergoes a major renovation or demolition. Otherwise, the Company is not required to remove asbestos from its facilities. Generally asbestos is found on steam and condensate piping systems as well as certain cladding on buildings and in building insulation throughout older facilities. The Company's obligation for the proper removal and disposal of asbestos products from the Company's mills is a conditional asset retirement obligation. As a result of the longevity of the Company's mills, due in part to the maintenance procedures and the fact that the Company does not have plans for major changes that require the removal of asbestos, the timing of the asbestos removal is indeterminate. As a result, the Company is currently unable to reasonably estimate the fair value of its asbestos removal and disposal obligation. The Company will recognize a liability in the period in which sufficient information is available to reasonably estimate its fair value.
		(f)	The Company entered into certain minimum or fixed purchase commitments primarily related to the purchase of raw materials that extend beyond 2014, none of which are individually or together material.

Restricted_Group_Supplemental_

Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure	'
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure
	The terms of the indenture governing the Company's Senior Notes require that it provides the results of operations and financial condition of Mercer International Inc. and the restricted subsidiaries under the indenture, collectively referred to as the "Restricted Group".  As at and during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Restricted Group was comprised of Mercer International Inc., certain holding subsidiaries and its Rosenthal and Celgar mills. The Restricted Group excludes the Stendal mill.
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
		31-Dec-13
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	82,910		$	64,818	$	-	$	147,728
	Receivables		75,987			59,906		-		135,893
	Inventories		93,807			77,101		-		170,908
	Prepaid expenses and other		7,742			3,176		-		10,918
	Deferred income tax		3,273			3,053		-		6,326
	Total current assets		263,719			208,054		-		471,773
	Long-term assets
	Property, plant and equipment		420,373			618,258		-		1,038,631
	Deferred note issuance costs and other		10,987			10,011		-		20,998
	Deferred income tax		9,894			7,263		-		17,157
	Due from unrestricted group		153,851			-		-153,851		-
	Total assets	$	858,824		$	843,586	$	-153,851	$	1,548,559
	LIABILITIES
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and other	$	49,891		$	53,923	$	-	$	103,814
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
	obligations		1,330			-		-		1,330
	Debt		749			59,606		-		60,355
	Total current liabilities		51,970			113,529		-		165,499
	Long-term liabilities
	Debt		336,382			582,635		-		919,017
	Due to restricted group		-			153,851		-153,851		-
	Interest rate derivative liability		-			46,517		-		46,517
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
	obligations		35,466			-		-		35,466
	Capital leases and other		8,523			10,770		-		19,293
	Deferred income tax		14,450			-		-		14,450
	Total liabilities		446,791			907,302		-153,851		1,200,242
	EQUITY
	Total shareholders' equity (deficit)		412,033			-52,955		-		359,078
	Noncontrolling interest (deficit)		-			-10,761		-		-10,761
	Total liabilities and equity	$	858,824		$	843,586	$	-153,851	$	1,548,559
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
		31-Dec-12
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	48,407		$	89,032	$	-	$	137,439
	Receivables		80,708			64,442		-		145,150
	Inventories		98,606			57,373		-		155,979
	Prepaid expenses and other		7,661			2,764		-		10,425
	Deferred income tax		2,885			3,002		-		5,887
	Total current assets		238,267			216,613		-		454,880
	Long-term assets
	Property, plant and equipment		455,293			611,213		-		1,066,506
	Deferred note issuance costs and other		8,712			7,324		-		16,036
	Deferred income tax		12,102			11,057		-		23,159
	Due from unrestricted group		134,897			-		-134,897		-
	Total assets	$	849,271		$	846,207	$	-134,897	$	1,560,581
	LIABILITIES
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and other	$	55,517		$	63,082	$	-	$	118,599
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
obligations		1,072			-		-		1,072
Debt		7,465			52,740		-		60,205
Total current liabilities		64,054			115,822		-		179,876
Long-term liabilities
Debt		285,079			592,701		-		877,780
Due to restricted group		-			134,897		-134,897		-
Interest rate derivative liability		-			66,819		-		66,819
Pension and other post-retirement benefit
obligations		42,378			-		-		42,378
Capital leases and other		8,008			10,367		-		18,375
Deferred income tax		7,591			-		-		7,591
Total liabilities		407,110			920,606		-134,897		1,192,819
EQUITY
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)		442,161			-53,057		-		389,104
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)		-			-21,342		-		-21,342
Total liabilities and equity	$	849,271		$	846,207	$	-134,897	$	1,560,581
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
	Year Ended December 31, 2013
	Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
	Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
Revenues
Pulp	$	561,350		$	434,837	$	-	$	996,187
Energy and chemicals		33,783			58,415		-		92,198
		595,133			493,252		-		1,088,385
Operating costs		498,952			421,880		-		920,832
Operating depreciation and amortization		43,498			34,811		-		78,309
Selling, general and administrative expenses		31,943			19,226		-		51,169
Restructuring expenses		5,029			1,386		-		6,415
		579,422			477,303		-		1,056,725
Operating income		15,711			15,949		-		31,660
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		-32,321			-45,011		8,176		-69,156
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		-2,767			22,476		-		19,709
Other income (expense)		9,217			174		-8,176		1,215
Total other income (expense)		-25,871			-22,361		-		-48,232
Income (loss) before income taxes		-10,160			-6,412		-		-16,572
Income tax benefit (provision)		-9,365			169		-		-9,196
Net income (loss)		-19,525			-6,243		-		-25,768
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
interest		-			-607		-		-607
Net income (loss) attributable to common
shareholders	$	-19,525		$	-6,850	$	-	$	-26,375
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
	Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
Revenues
Pulp	$	545,205		$	434,565	$	-	$	979,770
Energy and chemicals		36,638			56,328		-		92,966
		581,843			490,893		-		1,072,736
Operating costs		500,223			385,921		-		886,144
Operating depreciation and amortization		40,118			34,184		-		74,302
Selling, general and administrative expenses		31,688			17,580		-		49,268
		572,029			437,685		-		1,009,714
Operating income		9,814			53,208		-		63,022
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		-30,125			-48,934		7,292		-71,767
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		2,609			2,203		-		4,812
Other income (expense)		6,465			648		-7,292		-179
Total other income (expense)		-21,051			-46,083		-		-67,134
Income (loss) before income taxes		-11,237			7,125		-		-4,112
Income tax benefit (provision)		-7,050			-2,329		-		-9,379
Net income (loss)		-18,287			4,796		-		-13,491
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
interest		-			-2,179		-		-2,179
Net income (loss) attributable to common
shareholders	$	-18,287		$	2,617	$	-	$	-15,670
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
	Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Restricted Group			Unrestricted Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Consolidated Group
Revenues
Pulp	$	659,741		$	497,465	$	-	$	1,157,206
Energy and chemicals		35,455			59,303		-		94,758
		695,196			556,768		-		1,251,964
Operating costs		532,471			433,252		-		965,723
Operating depreciation and amortization		41,535			36,076		-		77,611
Selling, general and administrative expenses		33,581			20,384		-		53,965
		607,587			489,712		-		1,097,299
Operating income		87,609			67,056		-		154,665
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		-34,639			-54,386		6,911		-82,114
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		-			-1,974		-		-1,974
Other income (expense)		8,860			1,676		-6,911		3,625
Total other income (expense)		-25,779			-54,684		-		-80,463
Income (loss) before income taxes		61,830			12,372		-		74,202
Income tax benefit (provision)		-6,422			7,390		-		968
Net income (loss)		55,408			19,762		-		75,170
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
interest		-			-5,471		-		-5,471
Net income (loss) attributable to common
shareholders	$	55,408		$	14,291	$	-	$	69,699
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2013
	Restricted			Unrestricted		Consolidated
	Group			Subsidiaries		Group
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	-19,525		$	-6,243	$	-25,768
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
from operating activities
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		982			-22,476		-21,494
Depreciation and amortization		43,833			34,812		78,645
Deferred income taxes		7,263			4,219		11,482
Stock compensation expense		3,574			-		3,574
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
funding		648			-		648
Other		-360			3,529		3,169
Changes in working capital
Receivables		4,780			9,213		13,993
Inventories		1,965			-16,528		-14,563
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		-6,026			-5,543		-11,569
Other(1)		-13,621			11,829		-1,792
Net cash from (used in) operating activities		23,513			12,812		36,325
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-13,183			-32,524		-45,707
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (Note 15)		-20,000			20,000		-
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		581			158		739
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-32,602			-12,366		-44,968
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-1,459			-54,957		-56,416
Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt		52,250			22,222		74,472
Repayment of capital lease obligations		-725			-1,868		-2,593
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		-5,640			-		-5,640
Payment of note issuance costs		-1,829			-2,026		-3,855
Proceeds from government grants		-			9,265		9,265
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		42,597			-27,364		15,233
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents		995			2,704		3,699
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		34,503			-24,214		10,289
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		48,407			89,032		137,439
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	82,910		$	64,818	$	147,728
_________________________
	-1		Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2012
	Restricted			Unrestricted		Consolidated
	Group			Subsidiaries		Group
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	-18,287		$	4,796	$	-13,491
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
from operating activities
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		-983			-2,203		-3,186
Depreciation and amortization		40,474			34,183		74,657
Deferred income taxes		6,660			-6,812		-152
Stock compensation expense		2,616			-		2,616
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
funding		365			-		365
Other		1,574			3,417		4,991
Changes in working capital
Receivables		-755			11,550		10,795
Inventories		-5,132			6,858		1,726
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		-9,576			-8,416		-17,992
Other(1)		-20,292			19,078		-1,214
Net cash from (used in) operating activities		-3,336			62,451		59,115
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-28,213			-18,990		-47,203
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		470			370		840
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities		15,753			-		15,753
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-11,990			-18,620		-30,610
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-3,378			-32,062		-35,440
Repayment of capital lease obligations		-945			-1,788		-2,733
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		6,031			-		6,031
Payment of note issuance costs		-409			-2,161		-2,570
Proceeds from government grants		4,061			984		5,045
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		5,360			-35,027		-29,667
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents		221			2,081		2,302
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		-9,745			10,885		1,140
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		58,152			78,147		136,299
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	48,407		$	89,032	$	137,439
___________________________
	-1		Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Restricted Group			Unrestricted Subsidiaries		Consolidated Group
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	55,408		$	19,762	$	75,170
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
from operating activities
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		-			1,974		1,974
Depreciation and amortization		41,875			36,077		77,952
Deferred income taxes		4,160			-7,469		-3,309
Stock compensation expense		4,607			-		4,607
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
funding		-374			-		-374
Other		431			685		1,116
Changes in working capital
Receivables		4,530			-6,763		-2,233
Inventories		-14,162			-10,492		-24,654
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		8,167			11,670		19,837
Other(1)		-11,836			16,326		4,490
Net cash from (used in) operating activities		92,806			61,770		154,576
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-41,079			-11,547		-52,626
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		456			676		1,132
Purchase of marketable securities		-16,343			-		-16,343
Note receivable		3,988			-		3,988
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-52,978			-10,871		-63,849
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-35,477			-32,225		-67,702
Repayment of capital lease obligations		-1,823			-2,272		-4,095
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		-20,491			-		-20,491
Proceeds from government grants		19,898			151		20,049
Purchase of treasury shares		-10,623			-		-10,623
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		-48,516			-34,346		-82,862
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents		-990			-3,176		-4,166
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		-9,678			13,377		3,699
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		67,830			64,770		132,600
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	58,152		$	78,147	$	136,299
___________________________
	-1		Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.

The_Company_And_Summary_Of_Sig1

The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Background	'
	Background
	Mercer International Inc. ("Mercer Inc." or the "Company") is a Washington corporation and the Company's shares of common stock are quoted and listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Market and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
	Mercer Inc. operates three pulp manufacturing facilities, one in Canada and two in Germany, and is one of the largest producers of market northern bleached softwood kraft ("NBSK") pulp in the world.
	In these Consolidated Financial Statements, unless otherwise indicated, all amounts are expressed in United States dollars ("$" or "U.S. dollar"). The symbol "€" refers to the Euro and the symbol "C$" refers to Canadian dollars.
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	These Consolidated Financial Statements contained herein include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company"). The Company's consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). All significant inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.
	Effective October 1, 2013, the Company changed its reporting currency from the Euro to the U.S. dollar, to enhance communication and understanding with its shareholders, analysts and other stakeholders and improve comparability of the Company's financial information with its competitors and peer group companies. With the change in reporting currency, all comparative financial information has been restated from Euros to U.S. dollars to reflect the Company's consolidated financial statements as if it had been historically reported in U.S. dollars, consistent with the Company's currency translation policy described below in Foreign Operations and Currency Translation.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	Preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant management judgment is required in determining the accounting for, among other things, doubtful accounts and reserves, depreciation and amortization, future cash flows associated with impairment testing for long-lived assets, derivative financial instruments, legal liabilities, asset retirement obligations, pensions and post-retirement benefit obligations, income taxes, contingencies and inventory obsolescence and provisions. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates, and changes in these estimates are recorded when known.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	Cash and cash equivalents include cash held in bank accounts and highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.
Investments	'
	Investments
	Investments in debt securities and equity investments in publicly traded companies in which the Company does not exercise significant influence are classified as available-for-sale securities. These securities are reported at fair values; based upon quoted market prices, with the unrealized gains or losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income as a separate component of shareholders' equity, until realized. If a loss in value in available-for-sale securities is considered to be other than temporary, the loss is recognized in the determination of net income. The cost of all securities sold is based on the specific identification method to determine realized gains or losses.
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories of raw materials, finished goods and work in progress are valued at the lower of cost, using the weighted-average cost method, or net realizable value. Other materials and spare parts are valued at the lower of cost and replacement cost. Cost includes labor, materials and production overhead and is determined by using the weighted average cost method. Raw materials inventories include both roundwood (logs) and wood chips. These inventories are located both at the pulp mills and at various offsite locations. In accordance with industry practice, physical inventory counts utilize standardized techniques to estimate quantities of roundwood and wood chip inventory volumes. These techniques historically have provided reasonable estimates of such inventories.
Property, Plant and Equipment	'
	Property, Plant and Equipment
	Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings and production equipment is based on the estimated useful lives of the assets and is computed using the straight-line method. Buildings are depreciated over 10 to 50 years and production equipment and other primarily over 25 years.
	The Company reviews its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. To determine recoverability, the Company compares the carrying value of the assets to the estimated future undiscounted cash flows. Measurement of an impairment loss for long-lived assets held for use is based on the fair value of the asset.
	The costs of major rebuilds, replacements and those expenditures that substantially increase the useful lives of existing property, plant, and equipment are capitalized, as well as interest costs associated with major capital projects until ready for their intended use. The cost of repairs and maintenance as well as planned shutdown maintenance performed on manufacturing facilities, composed of labor, materials and other incremental costs, is charged to operations as incurred.
Leases	'
	Leases which transfer to the Company substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item are capitalized at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Capital leases are depreciated over the lease term. Operating lease payments are recognized as an expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Asset Retirement Obligation	'
	The Company provides for asset retirement obligations when there is a legislated or contractual basis for those obligations. Obligations are recorded as a liability at fair value, with a corresponding increase to property, plant, and equipment, and are amortized over the remaining useful life of the related assets. The liability is accreted using a risk-free interest rate.
Government Grants	'
	Government Grants
	The Company records investment grants from federal and state governments when the conditions of their receipt are complied with and there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be received. Grants related to assets are government grants whose primary condition is that the company qualifying for them should purchase, construct or otherwise acquire long-term assets. Secondary conditions may also be attached, including restricting the type or location of the assets and/or other conditions that must be met. Grants related to assets are deducted from the asset costs in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Grants related to income are government grants which are either unconditional, related to reduced environmental emissions or related to the Company's normal business operations, and are reported as a reduction of related expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations when received.
	Note 1.  The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
	The Company is required to pay certain fees based on water consumption levels at its German mills. Accrued fees can be reduced upon the mills' demonstration of reduced wastewater emissions. The fees are expensed as incurred and the fee reduction is recognized once the Company has reasonable assurance that the German regulators will accept the reduced level of wastewater emissions. There may be a significant period of time between recognition of the wastewater expense and recognition of the wastewater fee reduction.
	To the extent that government grants have been received and not applied, these grants are recorded in cash with a corresponding adjustment to accounts payable and other in the Consolidated Balance Sheet due to the short-term nature of the related payments.
Deferred Note Issuance Costs	'
	Deferred Note Issuance Costs
	Note issuance costs are deferred and amortized as a component of interest expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations over the term of the related debt instrument.
Pensions	'
	Pensions
	The Company maintains a defined benefit pension plan for its salaried employees at its Celgar mill which is funded and non-contributory. The cost of the benefits earned by the salaried employees is determined using the projected benefit method prorated on services. The pension expense reflects the current service cost, the interest on the unfunded liability and the amortization over the estimated average remaining service life of the employees of (i) prior service costs, and (ii) the net actuarial gain or loss that exceeds 10% of the greater of the accrued benefit obligation and the fair value of plan assets as of the beginning of the period. The Company recognizes the net funded status of the plan.
	In addition, hourly-paid employees at the Celgar mill are covered by a multiemployer pension plan for which contributions are charged against earnings in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Foreign Operations and Currency Translation	'
	Foreign Operations and Currency Translation
	The Company translates foreign assets and liabilities of its subsidiaries, other than those denominated in U.S. dollars, at the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average rate of exchange throughout the year. Transaction gains and losses related to net assets primarily located in Canada and Germany are recognized as unrealized foreign currency translation adjustments within accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity, until all of the investment in the subsidiaries is sold or liquidated. The translation adjustments do not recognize the effect of income tax when the Company expects earnings of the foreign subsidiary to be indefinitely reinvested. The income tax effect on currency translation adjustments related to foreign subsidiaries that are not considered indefinitely reinvested is recorded as a component of deferred taxes in the Consolidated Balance Sheet with an offset to other comprehensive income. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions (transactions denominated in a currency other than the entity's functional currency) are included in costs and expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Where inter-company loans are of a long-term investment nature, the after-tax effect of exchange rate changes are included as an unrealized foreign currency translation adjustment within accumulated other comprehensive income in shareholders' equity.
Revenue and Related Cost Recognition	'
	Revenue and Related Cost Recognition
	The Company recognizes revenue from product, transportation, chemical and other sales when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the sales price is fixed or determinable, title of ownership and risk of loss have passed to the customer and collectability is reasonably assured. Sales are reported net of discounts and allowances.
	Amounts charged to customers for shipping and handling are recognized as revenue in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Shipping and handling costs incurred by the Company are included in operating costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The Company reports revenue from sales of surplus electricity and the sale of chemicals as energy and chemical revenues in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Energy revenues are recognized as the electricity is consumed by customers and when collection is reasonably assured. These revenues include an estimate of the value of electricity transferred to customers in the year but billed subsequent to year-end. Customer bills are based on agreed upon rates and meter readings that indicate electricity consumption.
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense over an award's vesting period based on the award's fair value in selling, general, and administrative expenses within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	The fair value of performance share units is re-measured at each balance sheet date by multiplying the market price of a share of Mercer Inc. common shares by the expected number of common shares to be awarded. The cumulative effect of the change in fair value is recognized in the period of the change as an adjustment to compensation cost. The Company estimates forfeitures of performance share units based on management's expectations and recognizes compensation cost only for those awards expected to vest. Estimated forfeitures are adjusted to actual experience at each balance sheet date.
	The fair value of restricted share awards is determined by multiplying the market price of a share of Mercer Inc. common shares on the grant date by the number of units granted.
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Deferred income taxes are recognized using the asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are provided if, after considering both positive and negative available evidence, it is more likely than not that some or all of the net deferred tax assets will not be realized.
	Deferred income taxes are determined separately for each tax-paying component of the Company. For each tax-paying component, all current deferred tax liabilities and assets are offset and presented as a single net amount and all noncurrent deferred tax liabilities and assets are offset and presented as a single net amount.
Derivative Financial Instruments	'
	Derivative Financial Instruments
	The Company occasionally enters into derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency forward contracts, electricity forward contracts, interest rate swaps, and pulp price swaps to limit exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates, energy prices, interest rates, and pulp prices. These derivative instruments are not designated as hedging instruments. The change in fair value of electricity derivative contracts is included in operating costs in the Consolidated Statement of Operations and any changes in the fair value of foreign currency, interest rate, and pulp price derivative contracts are recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Periodically, the Company enters into derivative contracts to supply materials for its own use and as such are exempt from mark-to-market accounting.
Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders	'
	Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Shareholders
	Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders ("EPS") is computed by dividing net income (loss) available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding in the period. Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders is calculated to give effect to all potentially dilutive common shares outstanding by applying the "Treasury Stock" and "If-Converted" methods. Outstanding stock options, restricted shares, performance shares, performance share units, and convertible notes represent the only potentially dilutive effects on the Company's weighted average shares.
New Accounting Standards	'
	New Accounting Standards
	In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-05, an update to Foreign Currency Matters, which indicates that a cumulative translation adjustment is attached to the parent's investment in a foreign entity and should be released in a manner consistent with the derecognition guidance on investments in entities. Thus, the entire amount of the cumulative translation adjustment associated with the foreign entity would be released when there has been (i) a sale of a subsidiary or group of net assets within a foreign entity and the sale represents the substantially complete liquidation of the investment in the foreign entity; (ii) a loss of a controlling financial interest in an investment in a foreign entity; or (iii) a step acquisition for a foreign entity. The update does not change the requirement to release a pro-rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment of the foreign entity into earnings for a partial sale of an equity method investment in a foreign entity. The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013 and will not have an impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements unless one or more of the derecognition events stated above occur after the effective date.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, which provides guidance on the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss ("NOL") carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists. ASU 2013-11 requires entities to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a NOL or tax credit carryforward whenever the NOL or tax credit carryforward would be available to reduce the additional taxable income or tax due if the tax position is disallowed. This accounting standard update requires entities to assess whether to net the unrecognized tax benefit with a deferred tax asset as of the reporting date. The amendments are effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2013. The Company has determined these changes will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_Tabl

Cash and Cash Equivalents (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Cash and Cash Equivalents	'
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	147,728	$	137,439

Receivables_Tables

Receivables (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Receivables [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Receivables	'
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Sale of pulp, energy and chemicals, net of allowance
	of $178 (2012 – $148)	$	124,579	$	133,764
	Value added tax		4,545		5,656
	Other non-trade receivables		6,769		5,730
		$	135,893	$	145,150

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories [Abstract]	'
Components of Inventory	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Raw materials	$	66,356	$	60,688
	Finished goods		54,982		50,326
	Spare parts and other		49,570		44,965
		$	170,908	$	155,979

Property_Plant_And_Equipment_T

Property, Plant And Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Property, Plant And Equipment	'
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Land	$	34,421	$	33,210
	Buildings		194,676		177,198
	Production equipment and other		1,570,196		1,536,415
			1,799,293		1,746,823
	Less: accumulated depreciation		-760,662		-680,317
		$	1,038,631	$	1,066,506

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Tab

Accounts Payable and Other (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts Payable and Other [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accounts Payable and Other	'
		December 31,
			2013		2012
	Trade payables	$	44,289	$	39,896
	Accrued expenses		39,060		47,271
	Accrued interest		10,697		11,522
	Capital leases, current portion (Note 19)		2,254		2,582
	Current taxes payable (Note 9)		1,132		9,516
	Other		6,382		7,812
		$	103,814	$	118,599

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Debt	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Note payable to bank, included in a total loan credit facility of €828.0
	million to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill (a)	$	568,945	$	597,158
	Senior notes, interest at 9.50% accrued and payable semi-annually,
	unsecured (b)		336,382		284,361
	Credit agreement with a lender with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of C$40.0 million (c)		-		6,031
	Term bank facility for a project at the Stendal mill of €17.0 million (d)		21,179		-
	Loans payable to the noncontrolling shareholder of the Stendal mill (e)		52,117		48,283
	Investment loan agreement with a lender with respect to a project at
	the Rosenthal mill of €4.4 million (f)		749		2,152
	Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of €25.0 million (g)		-		-
	Credit agreement with a bank with respect to a revolving credit facility
	of €5.0 million (h)		-		-
			979,372		937,985
	Less:  current portion		-60,355		-60,205
	Debt, less current portion	$	919,017	$	877,780
Principal Maturities Of Debt	'
	Matures	Amount
	2014	$	60,355
	2015		65,566
	2016		65,566
	2017		787,885
	2018		-
	Thereafter		-
		$	979,372

Recovered_Sheet1

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Reconciliation of Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Components of Net Benefit Costs	'
	Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2013 is as follows:
		2013
		Pension		Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations			Total
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2012	$	48,639	$	28,314		$	76,953
	Service cost		137		753			890
	Interest cost		1,836		1,108			2,944
	Benefit payments		-2,772		-767			-3,539
	Special termination benefits		277		-			277
	Actuarial losses (gains)		-1,472		943			-529
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		-3,079		-1,893			-4,972
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2013		43,566		28,458			72,024
	Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2012		33,647		-			33,647
	Actual returns		4,686		-			4,686
	Contributions		2,111		767			2,878
	Benefit payments		-2,772		-767			-3,539
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		-2,300		-			-2,300
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2013		35,372		-			35,372
	Funded status, December 31, 2013 (1)	$	-8,194	$	-28,458		$	-36,652
	Components of the net benefit cost recognized
	Service cost	$	137	$	753		$	890
	Interest cost		1,836		1,108			2,944
	Expected return on plan assets		-2,133		-			-2,133
	Special termination benefits		277		-			277
	Amortization of unrecognized items		1,439		116			1,555
	Net benefit costs	$	1,556	$	1,977		$	3,533
	(1)The total of $36,796 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation.
	Note 8.  Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)
	Information about the Celgar Plans, in aggregate for the year ended December 31, 2012 is as follows:
		2012
		Pension		Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations			Total
	Change in benefit obligation
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2011	$	46,413	$	25,681		$	72,094
	Service cost		144		725			869
	Interest cost		1,961		1,126			3,087
	Benefit payments		-2,449		-777			-3,226
	Actuarial losses (gains)		1,534		980			2,514
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		1,036		579			1,615
	Benefit obligation, December 31, 2012		48,639		28,314			76,953
	Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2011		30,789		-			30,789
	Actual returns		2,449		-			2,449
	Contributions		2,164		777			2,941
	Benefit payments		-2,449		-777			-3,226
	Foreign currency exchange rate changes		694		-			694
	Fair value of plan assets, December 31, 2012		33,647		-			33,647
	Funded status, December 31, 2012 (1)	$	-14,992	$	-28,314		$	-43,306
	Components of the net benefit cost recognized
	Service cost	$	144	$	725		$	869
	Interest cost		1,961		1,126			3,087
	Expected return on plan assets		-2,105		-			-2,105
	Amortization of unrecognized items		1,453		7			1,460
	Net benefit costs	$	1,453	$	1,858		$	3,311
	(1)The total of $43,450 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation.
Estimated future benefit payments	'
							Amount
	2014						$	3,656
	2015							3,824
	2016							3,943
	2017							4,052
	2018							4,173
	2019 – 2023							22,311
Summary of Key Assumptions	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Benefit obligations
	Discount rate		4.50%		4.00%
	Rate of compensation increase		2.75%		2.75%
	Net benefit cost for year ended
	Discount rate		4.00%		4.25%
	Rate of compensation increase		2.75%		2.75%
	Expected rate of return on plan assets		6.60%		6.75%
	Assumed health care cost trend rate at
	Initial health care cost trend rate		8.00%		8.50%
	Annual rate of decline in trend rate		0.50%		0.50%
	Ultimate health care cost trend rate		4.50%		4.50%
	Medical services plan premiums trend rate		4.50%		6.00%
Schedule of Effect of One-Percentage-Point Change in Assumed Health Care Cost Trend Rates	'
		31-Dec-13					31-Dec-12
		1%		1%			1%			1%
		Increase		Decrease			Increase			Decrease
	Effect on total service and interest rate components	$	51	$	-53		$	50		$	-53
	Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation	$	927	$	-896		$	957		$	-921
Schedule of Asset Allocation of Funded Plans	'
				Target			2013			2012
	Equity securities				60%			64%			58%
	Debt securities				40%			36%			42%
	Cash and cash equivalents				0%			0%			0%
								100%			100%
Pension Plan Asset Fair Value Measurements	'
	Asset category	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs			Significant Unobservable Inputs			Total
	Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds	$	22,458	$	-		$	-		$	22,458
	Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund		12,821		-			-			12,821
	Cash		93		-			-			93
	Total assets	$	35,372	$	-		$	-		$	35,372
Schedule of Multiemployer Plan	'
				Expiration
				Date of		Are the Company's
		Provincially		Collective		Contributions Greater Than
		Registered		Bargaining		5% of Total Contributions
	Legal name	Plan Number		Agreement		2013			2012
				April 30,
	The Pulp and Paper Industry Pension Plan	P085324		2017		Yes			Yes

Income_Taxes_Tables

Income Taxes (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Unrecognized Tax Benefits Roll Forward	'
		2013		2012
	Balance at January 1	$	82,934	$	1,427
	Reduction prior year tax positions		-82,934		-1,427
	Addition of current year tax positions		-		82,934
	Balance at December 31	$	-	$	82,934
Reconciliation Of Effective Tax Rate	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	U.S. Federal statutory rate		35%		35%		35%
	U.S. Federal statutory rate on (income) loss before income
	taxes and noncontrolling interest	$	5,797	$	1,439	$	-25,971
	Tax differential on foreign income		736		874		7,892
	Effect of foreign earnings		-945		-8,382		-13,788
	Valuation allowance		-17,040		-17,529		12,897
	Tax benefit of partnership structure		5,942		6,785		7,285
	Pension adjustment		-1,206		174		2,595
	Non-taxable foreign subsidiaries		1,696		1,897		5,601
	Research and development expense		1,319		3,436		-
	Prior year adjustments		-5,749		-		-
	Other		254		1,927		4,457
		$	-9,196	$	-9,379	$	968
	Comprised of:
	Current	$	2,286	$	-9,531	$	-2,341
	Deferred		-11,482		152		3,309
		$	-9,196	$	-9,379	$	968
Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	German tax loss carryforwards	$	123,735	$	100,251
	U.S. tax loss carryforwards		44,718		36,090
	Canadian tax loss carryforwards		11,606		40,992
	Basis difference between income tax and financial reporting with
	respect to operating pulp mills		-64,252		-71,191
	Derivative financial instruments		13,060		18,760
	Long-term debt		2,204		2,066
	Payable and accrued expenses		578		-257
	Deferred pension liability		9,605		10,810
	Capital leases		2,574		2,816
	Research and development expense pool		4,573		3,523
	Other		1,400		1,323
			149,801		145,183
	Valuation allowance		-140,768		-123,728
	Net deferred tax asset	$	9,033	$	21,455
	Comprised of:
	Deferred income tax asset – current	$	6,326	$	5,887
	Deferred income tax asset – non-current		17,157		23,159
	Deferred income tax liability – non-current		-14,450		-7,591
	Net deferred tax asset	$	9,033	$	21,455
Summary of valuation allowance	'
		2013		2012
	Balance at January 1	$	123,728	$	106,199
	Additions (reversals)
	United States		10,134		477
	Canada		12,324		15,844
	Germany		-5,681		-71
	The impact of changes in foreign exchange rates		263		1,279
	Balance at December 31	$	140,768	$	123,728

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable [Table Text Block]	'
	Outstanding Options						Exercisable Options
	Exercise Price		Number	Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (Years)	Weighted Average Exercise Price		Number	Weighted Average Exercise Price
	(U.S. dollars)				(U.S. dollars)			(U.S. dollars)
	$	7.30	30,000	1.57	$	7.30	30,000	$	7.30
	$	7.92	45,000	1.69	$	7.92	45,000	$	7.92
Performance Share Units [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Summary Of Share Based Compensation Arrangement Activity	'
		Number of PSUs
		2013	2012	2011
	Outstanding at January 1	786,129	795,312	534,783
	Granted	40,499	55,478	812,575
	Vested and issued	-	-	-474,728
	Cancelled	-	-	-60,055
	Forfeited	-35,196	-64,661	-17,263
	Outstanding at December 31	791,432	786,129	795,312
Restricted Stock [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'
Summary Of Share Based Compensation Arrangement Activity	'
		Number of Restricted Shares
		2013	2012	2011
	Outstanding at January 1	196,500	238,000	56,000
	Granted	38,000	36,500	238,000
	Vested	-76,500	-78,000	-56,000
	Outstanding at December 31	158,000	196,500	238,000

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Share_Attr1

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
	– basic	$	-26,375	$	-15,670	$	69,699
	Interest on convertible notes, net of tax		-		-		1,110
	Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
	– diluted	$	-26,375	$	-15,670	$	70,809
	Net income (loss) per share attributable to common
	shareholders
	Basic	$	-0.47	$	-0.28	$	1.39
	Diluted	$	-0.47	$	-0.28	$	1.24
	Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
	Basic(1)		55,673,838		55,596,761		50,116,982
	Effect of dilutive shares:
	Performance shares and PSUs		-		-		544,853
	Restricted shares		-		-		87,923
	Stock options and awards		-		-		57,483
	Convertible notes		-		-		6,178,778
	Diluted		55,673,838		55,596,761		56,986,019
	________
	(1) The basic weighted average number of shares excludes 158,000 restricted shares which have been issued, but have not vested as at December 31, 2013 (2012 – 196,500 restricted shares; 2011 – 238,000 restricted shares).
Schedule of Antidilutive Instruments Excluded from Computation of Net Income (Loss) Per Share	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012			2011
	Stock options and awards		75,000		175,000		-
	PSUs		791,432		786,129		-
	Restricted shares		158,000		196,500		-

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012
	Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	47,756	$	49,489
	Unrecognized losses and prior service costs
	related to defined benefit plans		-16,414		-21,050
	Unrealized gains on marketable securities		128		138
	Accumulated other comprehensive income	$	31,470	$	28,577

Business_Segment_Information_T

Business Segment Information (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Segment Information [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Net Sales To External Customers By Geographic Area Based On Location Of The Customer	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Germany	$	309,399	$	293,733	$	357,106
	China		300,827		295,797		326,610
	Other European Union countries (1)		224,988		216,846		244,884
	Italy		65,654		55,443		71,695
	Other Asia		49,855		42,692		42,970
	North America		30,404		61,103		96,520
	Other countries		2,748		2,099		1,146
			983,875		967,713		1,140,931
	Energy and chemical revenues		92,198		92,966		94,758
	Third party transportation revenues		12,312		12,057		16,275
		$	1,088,385	$	1,072,736	$	1,251,964
	________
	(1)Not including Germany or Italy; includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.
Schedule Of Total Long-Lived Assets By Geographic Area Based On Location Of The Asset	'
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Germany	$	843,777	$	839,535
	Canada		194,854		226,971
		$	1,038,631	$	1,066,506

Derivative_Instruments_Tables

Derivative Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative Transactions [Abstract]	'
Schedule of gains and losses by type of derivative recognized in gain (loss) on derivative instruments in the Consolidated Statement of Operations	'
		Year Ended December 31,
		2013		2012		2011
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	22,476	$	2,204	$	-1,974
	Pulp price derivative contracts		-2,767		2,608		-
		$	19,709	$	4,812	$	-1,974

Financial_Instruments_Tables

Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Of Financial Instruments	'
		2013				2012
		Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	147,728	$	147,728	$	137,439	$	137,439
	Marketable securities	$	217	$	217	$	243	$	243
	Receivables	$	135,893	$	135,893	$	145,150	$	145,150
	Pulp price derivative contracts – asset	$	-	$	-	$	982	$	982
	Accounts payable and other	$	103,814	$	103,814	$	118,599	$	118,599
	Debt	$	979,372	$	980,982	$	937,985	$	922,951
	Interest rate derivative contract – liability	$	46,517	$	46,517	$	66,819	$	66,819
Outstanding Financial Instruments And Estimated Fair Values	'
		Fair value measurements at December 31, 2013 using:
	Description	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets
	Marketable securities	$	217	$	-	$	-	$	217
	Liabilities
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	-	$	46,517	$	-	$	46,517
	Debt		-		367,405		613,577		980,982
		$	-	$	413,922	$	613,577	$	1,027,499
		Fair value measurements at December 31, 2012 using:
	Description	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	Assets
	Marketable securities	$	243	$	-	$	-	$	243
	Pulp price derivative contracts		-		982		-		982
		$	243	$	982	$	-	$	1,225
	Liabilities
	Interest rate derivative contract	$	-	$	66,819	$	-	$	66,819
	Debt		-		308,894		614,057		922,951
		$	-	$	375,713	$	614,057	$	989,770

Lease_Commitments_Tables

Lease Commitments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Minimum Lease Payment	'
		Capital		Operating
		Leases		Leases
	2014	$	2,406	$	2,280
	2015		2,414		2,076
	2016		2,263		1,295
	2017		1,511		1,239
	2018		880		1,237
	Thereafter		3,111		929
	Total		12,585	$	9,056
	Less: imputed interest		1,771
	Total present value of minimum capitalized payments		10,814
	Less: current portion of capital lease obligations		2,254
	Long-term capital lease obligations	$	8,560

Restricted_Group_Supplemental_1

Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Combined Condensed Balance Sheets	'
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
		31-Dec-13
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	82,910		$	64,818	$	-	$	147,728
	Receivables		75,987			59,906		-		135,893
	Inventories		93,807			77,101		-		170,908
	Prepaid expenses and other		7,742			3,176		-		10,918
	Deferred income tax		3,273			3,053		-		6,326
	Total current assets		263,719			208,054		-		471,773
	Long-term assets
	Property, plant and equipment		420,373			618,258		-		1,038,631
	Deferred note issuance costs and other		10,987			10,011		-		20,998
	Deferred income tax		9,894			7,263		-		17,157
	Due from unrestricted group		153,851			-		-153,851		-
	Total assets	$	858,824		$	843,586	$	-153,851	$	1,548,559
	LIABILITIES
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and other	$	49,891		$	53,923	$	-	$	103,814
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
	obligations		1,330			-		-		1,330
	Debt		749			59,606		-		60,355
	Total current liabilities		51,970			113,529		-		165,499
	Long-term liabilities
	Debt		336,382			582,635		-		919,017
	Due to restricted group		-			153,851		-153,851		-
	Interest rate derivative liability		-			46,517		-		46,517
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
	obligations		35,466			-		-		35,466
	Capital leases and other		8,523			10,770		-		19,293
	Deferred income tax		14,450			-		-		14,450
	Total liabilities		446,791			907,302		-153,851		1,200,242
	EQUITY
	Total shareholders' equity (deficit)		412,033			-52,955		-		359,078
	Noncontrolling interest (deficit)		-			-10,761		-		-10,761
	Total liabilities and equity	$	858,824		$	843,586	$	-153,851	$	1,548,559
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
	Combined Condensed Balance Sheets
		31-Dec-12
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	ASSETS
	Current assets
	Cash and cash equivalents	$	48,407		$	89,032	$	-	$	137,439
	Receivables		80,708			64,442		-		145,150
	Inventories		98,606			57,373		-		155,979
	Prepaid expenses and other		7,661			2,764		-		10,425
	Deferred income tax		2,885			3,002		-		5,887
	Total current assets		238,267			216,613		-		454,880
	Long-term assets
	Property, plant and equipment		455,293			611,213		-		1,066,506
	Deferred note issuance costs and other		8,712			7,324		-		16,036
	Deferred income tax		12,102			11,057		-		23,159
	Due from unrestricted group		134,897			-		-134,897		-
	Total assets	$	849,271		$	846,207	$	-134,897	$	1,560,581
	LIABILITIES
	Current liabilities
	Accounts payable and other	$	55,517		$	63,082	$	-	$	118,599
	Pension and other post-retirement benefit
	obligations		1,072			-		-		1,072
	Debt		7,465			52,740		-		60,205
Total current liabilities		64,054			115,822		-		179,876
Long-term liabilities
Debt		285,079			592,701		-		877,780
Due to restricted group		-			134,897		-134,897		-
Interest rate derivative liability		-			66,819		-		66,819
Pension and other post-retirement benefit
obligations		42,378			-		-		42,378
Capital leases and other		8,008			10,367		-		18,375
Deferred income tax		7,591			-		-		7,591
Total liabilities		407,110			920,606		-134,897		1,192,819
EQUITY
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)		442,161			-53,057		-		389,104
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)		-			-21,342		-		-21,342
Total liabilities and equity	$	849,271		$	846,207	$	-134,897	$	1,560,581
Combined Condensed Statements Of Operations	'
	Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
		Year Ended December 31, 2013
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	Revenues
	Pulp	$	561,350		$	434,837	$	-	$	996,187
	Energy and chemicals		33,783			58,415		-		92,198
			595,133			493,252		-		1,088,385
	Operating costs		498,952			421,880		-		920,832
	Operating depreciation and amortization		43,498			34,811		-		78,309
	Selling, general and administrative expenses		31,943			19,226		-		51,169
	Restructuring expenses		5,029			1,386		-		6,415
			579,422			477,303		-		1,056,725
	Operating income		15,711			15,949		-		31,660
	Other income (expense)
	Interest expense		-32,321			-45,011		8,176		-69,156
	Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		-2,767			22,476		-		19,709
	Other income (expense)		9,217			174		-8,176		1,215
	Total other income (expense)		-25,871			-22,361		-		-48,232
	Income (loss) before income taxes		-10,160			-6,412		-		-16,572
	Income tax benefit (provision)		-9,365			169		-		-9,196
	Net income (loss)		-19,525			-6,243		-		-25,768
	Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
	interest		-			-607		-		-607
	Net income (loss) attributable to common
	shareholders	$	-19,525		$	-6,850	$	-	$	-26,375
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
	Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Restricted			Unrestricted				Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Group
	Revenues
	Pulp	$	545,205		$	434,565	$	-	$	979,770
	Energy and chemicals		36,638			56,328		-		92,966
			581,843			490,893		-		1,072,736
	Operating costs		500,223			385,921		-		886,144
	Operating depreciation and amortization		40,118			34,184		-		74,302
	Selling, general and administrative expenses		31,688			17,580		-		49,268
			572,029			437,685		-		1,009,714
	Operating income		9,814			53,208		-		63,022
	Other income (expense)
	Interest expense		-30,125			-48,934		7,292		-71,767
	Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		2,609			2,203		-		4,812
	Other income (expense)		6,465			648		-7,292		-179
	Total other income (expense)		-21,051			-46,083		-		-67,134
	Income (loss) before income taxes		-11,237			7,125		-		-4,112
	Income tax benefit (provision)		-7,050			-2,329		-		-9,379
	Net income (loss)		-18,287			4,796		-		-13,491
	Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
	interest		-			-2,179		-		-2,179
	Net income (loss) attributable to common
	shareholders	$	-18,287		$	2,617	$	-	$	-15,670
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
	Combined Condensed Statements of Operations
		Year Ended December 31, 2011
		Restricted Group			Unrestricted Subsidiaries		Eliminations		Consolidated Group
	Revenues
	Pulp	$	659,741		$	497,465	$	-	$	1,157,206
	Energy and chemicals		35,455			59,303		-		94,758
			695,196			556,768		-		1,251,964
	Operating costs		532,471			433,252		-		965,723
	Operating depreciation and amortization		41,535			36,076		-		77,611
	Selling, general and administrative expenses		33,581			20,384		-		53,965
		607,587			489,712		-		1,097,299
Operating income		87,609			67,056		-		154,665
Other income (expense)
Interest expense		-34,639			-54,386		6,911		-82,114
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		-			-1,974		-		-1,974
Other income (expense)		8,860			1,676		-6,911		3,625
Total other income (expense)		-25,779			-54,684		-		-80,463
Income (loss) before income taxes		61,830			12,372		-		74,202
Income tax benefit (provision)		-6,422			7,390		-		968
Net income (loss)		55,408			19,762		-		75,170
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling
interest		-			-5,471		-		-5,471
Net income (loss) attributable to common
shareholders	$	55,408		$	14,291	$	-	$	69,699
Combined Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows	'
	Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
		Year Ended December 31, 2013
		Restricted			Unrestricted		Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Group
	Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
	Net income (loss)	$	-19,525		$	-6,243	$	-25,768
	Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
	from operating activities
	Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		982			-22,476		-21,494
	Depreciation and amortization		43,833			34,812		78,645
	Deferred income taxes		7,263			4,219		11,482
	Stock compensation expense		3,574			-		3,574
	Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
	funding		648			-		648
	Other		-360			3,529		3,169
	Changes in working capital
	Receivables		4,780			9,213		13,993
	Inventories		1,965			-16,528		-14,563
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		-6,026			-5,543		-11,569
	Other(1)		-13,621			11,829		-1,792
	Net cash from (used in) operating activities		23,513			12,812		36,325
	Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
	Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-13,183			-32,524		-45,707
	Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (Note 15)		-20,000			20,000		-
	Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		581			158		739
	Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-32,602			-12,366		-44,968
	Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
	Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-1,459			-54,957		-56,416
	Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt		52,250			22,222		74,472
	Repayment of capital lease obligations		-725			-1,868		-2,593
	Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		-5,640			-		-5,640
	Payment of note issuance costs		-1,829			-2,026		-3,855
	Proceeds from government grants		-			9,265		9,265
	Net cash from (used in) financing activities		42,597			-27,364		15,233
	Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
	equivalents		995			2,704		3,699
	Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		34,503			-24,214		10,289
	Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		48,407			89,032		137,439
	Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	82,910		$	64,818	$	147,728
	_________________________
		-1		Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
	Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
	Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
		Year Ended December 31, 2012
		Restricted			Unrestricted		Consolidated
		Group			Subsidiaries		Group
	Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
	Net income (loss)	$	-18,287		$	4,796	$	-13,491
	Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
	from operating activities
	Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		-983			-2,203		-3,186
	Depreciation and amortization		40,474			34,183		74,657
	Deferred income taxes		6,660			-6,812		-152
	Stock compensation expense		2,616			-		2,616
	Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
	funding		365			-		365
	Other		1,574			3,417		4,991
	Changes in working capital
	Receivables		-755			11,550		10,795
	Inventories		-5,132			6,858		1,726
	Accounts payable and accrued expenses		-9,576			-8,416		-17,992
	Other(1)		-20,292			19,078		-1,214
	Net cash from (used in) operating activities		-3,336			62,451		59,115
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-28,213			-18,990		-47,203
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		470			370		840
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities		15,753			-		15,753
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-11,990			-18,620		-30,610
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-3,378			-32,062		-35,440
Repayment of capital lease obligations		-945			-1,788		-2,733
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		6,031			-		6,031
Payment of note issuance costs		-409			-2,161		-2,570
Proceeds from government grants		4,061			984		5,045
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		5,360			-35,027		-29,667
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents		221			2,081		2,302
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		-9,745			10,885		1,140
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		58,152			78,147		136,299
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	48,407		$	89,032	$	137,439
___________________________
	-1		Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.
Note 21. Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (continued)
Combined Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
	Year Ended December 31, 2011
	Restricted Group			Unrestricted Subsidiaries		Consolidated Group
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
Net income (loss)	$	55,408		$	19,762	$	75,170
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows
from operating activities
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments		-			1,974		1,974
Depreciation and amortization		41,875			36,077		77,952
Deferred income taxes		4,160			-7,469		-3,309
Stock compensation expense		4,607			-		4,607
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of
funding		-374			-		-374
Other		431			685		1,116
Changes in working capital
Receivables		4,530			-6,763		-2,233
Inventories		-14,162			-10,492		-24,654
Accounts payable and accrued expenses		8,167			11,670		19,837
Other(1)		-11,836			16,326		4,490
Net cash from (used in) operating activities		92,806			61,770		154,576
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		-41,079			-11,547		-52,626
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment		456			676		1,132
Purchase of marketable securities		-16,343			-		-16,343
Note receivable		3,988			-		3,988
Net cash from (used in) investing activities		-52,978			-10,871		-63,849
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes		-35,477			-32,225		-67,702
Repayment of capital lease obligations		-1,823			-2,272		-4,095
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net		-20,491			-		-20,491
Proceeds from government grants		19,898			151		20,049
Purchase of treasury shares		-10,623			-		-10,623
Net cash from (used in) financing activities		-48,516			-34,346		-82,862
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash
equivalents		-990			-3,176		-4,166
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		-9,678			13,377		3,699
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year		67,830			64,770		132,600
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	$	58,152		$	78,147	$	136,299
___________________________
Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.

The_Company_And_Summary_Of_Sig2

The Company And Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
	item
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of pulp mills	3
Net actuarial gain (loss) percent that is exceeded for amortization	10.00%
Production equipment and other [Member]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	'25 years
Minimum [Member] | Buildings [Member]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	'10 years
Maximum [Member] | Buildings [Member]	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Property, plant and equipment, useful life	'50 years
Germany	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of pulp mills	2
Canada	'
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]	'
Number of pulp mills	1

Cash_and_Cash_Equivalents_Deta

Cash and Cash Equivalents (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$147,728	$137,439	$136,299	$132,600

Receivables_Details

Receivables (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Allowance	$178	$148
Receivables	135,893	145,150
Sale of pulp, energy and chemicals [Member]	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables	124,579	133,764
Value added tax [Member]	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables	4,545	5,656
Other non-trade receivables [Member]	'	'
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]	'	'
Receivables	$6,769	$5,730

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials	$66,356	$60,688
Finished goods	54,982	50,326
Spare parts and other	49,570	44,965
Inventories	$170,908	$155,979

Property_Plant_And_Equipment_N

Property, Plant And Equipment (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Unamortized government investment grants	$365,359	$364,849	'
Acquisition of production and other equipment under capital lease obligations	2,112	2,648	3,872
Asset retirement obligation	5,549	5,605	'
Production equipment and other [Member]	'	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'	'
Capital leases, gross amounts	20,550	21,710	'
Capital leases, accumulated depreciation	9,447	11,042	'
Acquisition of production and other equipment under capital lease obligations	$2,112	$2,648	$3,872

Property_Plant_And_Equipment_S

Property, Plant And Equipment (Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$1,799,293	$1,746,823
Accumulated Depreciation	-760,662	-680,317
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,038,631	1,066,506
Land [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	34,421	33,210
Buildings [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	194,676	177,198
Production equipment and other [Member]	'	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items]	'	'
Property, plant and equipment, gross	$1,570,196	$1,536,415

Accounts_Payable_and_Other_Det

Accounts Payable and Other (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accounts Payable and Other [Abstract]	'	'
Trade payables	$44,289	$39,896
Accrued expenses	39,060	47,271
Accrued interest	10,697	11,522
Capital leases, current portion (Note 19)	2,254	2,582
Current taxes payable (Note 9)	1,132	9,516
Other	6,382	7,812
Accounts payable and other, total	$103,814	$118,599

Debt_Narrative_Details

Debt (Narrative) (Details)

12 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Nov. 17, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

USD ($)

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Project Blue Mill [Member]

Loans Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder[Member]

Loans Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder[Member]

Loan Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder 2 [Member]

Loan Agreement At The Rosenthal Mill [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 25 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 5.0 Million [Member]

Canadian Dollar Borrowings Rate Option 1 [Member]

Canadian Dollar Borrowings Rate Option 2 [Member]

US Dollar Borrowings Rate Option 1 [Member]

US Dollar Borrowings Rate Option 2 [Member]

Twelve Month Period Beginning Dec 1, 2014 [Member]

Twelve Month Period Beginning Dec 1, 2015 [Member]

Beginning Dec 1, 2016 And Thereafter [Member]

USD ($)

EUR (€)

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

CAD

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

EUR (€)

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, face amount

'

'

€ 828,000,000

'

'

$50,000,000

'

$300,000,000

'

'

€ 26,800,000

'

€ 400,000

€ 4,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Varying basis spread

'

'

'

0.90%

1.80%

'

'

'

'

3.50%

'

'

'

2.75%

3.50%

3.50%

1.75%

0.25%

1.75%

0.25%

'

'

'

Description of variable basis spread

'three-month Euribor

'Euribor

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'Euribor

'

'

'

'Euribor

'Euribor

'

'bankers acceptance

'Canadian prime

'LIBOR

'U.S. base

'

'

'

Interest rate at period

'

'

'

1.39%

2.14%

'

'

'

'

'

1.00%

'

'

3.09%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt instrument interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

'

9.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage Of Debt Guaranteed By The Federal Republic Of Germany

'

'

48.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage Of Debt Guaranteed By The State Of Saxony-Anhalt

'

'

32.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

80.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum Amount Of Principal Debt Guaranteed By the German Government

'

'

352,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt Instrument, Amount Of Debt Supporting Bank Guarantees

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

600,000

1,100,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Deferred Scheduled Principal Payment To Debt Maturity Date

'

'

164,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, maturity date

'

30-Sep-17

'

'

'

'

1-Dec-17

'

1-May-16

1-Sep-17

'

'

'

1-Feb-14

1-Oct-16

1-Dec-15

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, offering date

'

'

'

'

'

'

17-Nov-10

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Cash sweep, percent

'

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Working capital reserve

'

'

15,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

DSRA balance

'

'

33,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Issued price percentage of principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

104.50%

'

100.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Note Redemption Notice Minimum Days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'30 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Senior Note Redemption Notice Maximum Days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'60 days

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Redemption prices expressed as percentage of principal amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

104.75%

102.38%

100.00%

Maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,000,000

17,000,000

'

'

'

'

25,000,000

5,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Interest Payable

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

11,100,000

9,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Line of credit facility interest rate at period end

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

3.84%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

1,700,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Remaining borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

33,300,000

'

'

'

'

'

24,400,000

3,900,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Proceeds from issuance of debt

'

'

'

'

'

50,500,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Balance in investment account used to fund Project Blue Mill

2,618,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Parent capital contribution to subsidiary

$20,000,000

$20,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt_Schedule_Of_Debt_Details

Debt (Schedule Of Debt) (Details)

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Nov. 17, 2010

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

USD ($)

USD ($)

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Stendal Loan Facility [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Senior Notes [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Credit Agreement For Celgar Mill [Member]

Project Blue Mill [Member]

Project Blue Mill [Member]

Project Blue Mill [Member]

Loans Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder[Member]

Loans Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder[Member]

Loans Payable To The Noncontrolling Shareholder[Member]

Loan Agreement At The Rosenthal Mill [Member]

Loan Agreement At The Rosenthal Mill [Member]

Loan Agreement At The Rosenthal Mill [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 25 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 25 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 25 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 5.0 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 5.0 Million [Member]

Rosenthal Credit Facility - 5.0 Million [Member]

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

CAD

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Debt Instrument [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Total debt

$979,372,000

$937,985,000

$568,945,000

[1]

'

$597,158,000

[1]

$336,382,000

[2]

'

$284,361,000

[2]

'

$0

[3]

'

$6,031,000

[3]

$21,179,000

[4]

'

$0

[4]

$52,117,000

[5]

'

$48,283,000

[5]

$749,000

[6]

'

$2,152,000

[6]

$0

[7]

'

$0

[7]

$0

[8]

'

$0

[8]

Less: current portion

-60,355,000

-60,205,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, less current portion

919,017,000

877,780,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Debt, face amount

'

'

'

828,000,000

'

'

50,000,000

'

300,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

26,800,000

'

'

4,400,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Maximum borrowing capacity

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

40,000,000

'

'

€ 17,000,000

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

€ 25,000,000

'

'

€ 5,000,000

'

Debt, stated interest rate

'

'

'

'

'

9.50%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

[1]

Note payable to bank, included in a total loan facility of €828.0 million to finance the construction related to the Stendal mill ("Stendal Loan Facility"), interest at rates varying from Euribor plus 0.90% to Euribor plus 1.80% (rates on amounts of borrowing at December 31, 2013 range from 1.39% to 2.14%), principal due in required installments beginning September 30, 2006 until September 30, 2017, collateralized by the gross assets of the Stendal mill, with 48% and 32% guaranteed by the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Saxony-Anhalt, respectively, of up to €352.9 million of the outstanding principal, subject to a debt service reserve account ("DSRA") for purposes of paying amounts due in the following 12 months under the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility; payment of dividends is only permitted if certain cash flow requirements are met. See Note 17 - Derivative Transactions for a discussion of the Company's variable-to-fixed interest rate swap that was put in place to effectively fix the interest rate on the Stendal Loan Facility.Note 7. Debt (continued)On March 13, 2009, the Company finalized an agreement with its lenders to amend its Stendal Loan Facility.B The amendment deferred approximately €164.0 million of scheduled principal payments until the maturity date, September 30, 2017. The amendment also provided for a 100% cash sweep, referred to as the "Cash Sweep", of any cash, in excess of a €15.0 million working capital reserve and the Guarantee Amount, as discussed in Note 20(b) - Commitments and Contingencies, and other amounts as contemplated in the amendment, held by Stendal which will be used first to fund the DSRA to a level sufficient to service the amounts due and payable under the Stendal Loan Facility during the then following 12 months, which means the DSRA is "Fully Funded", and second to prepay the deferred principal amounts. As at December 31, 2013, the DSRA balance was €33.0 million and was not Fully Funded. On September 30, 2013, the Company amended the terms of the Stendal Loan Facility and Project Blue Mill facility (the "Facilities") (Note 7(d)). The amendment included waiving compliance with the annual debt service cover ratio and the senior debt cover ratio under the Facilities until and including December 31, 2013; amending the senior debt cover ratio so that it now deducts the DSRA and other specified cash above a stipulated threshold in the calculation of senior debt; providing that a failure to satisfy the annual debt service cover ratio under the Facilities would only be an event of default when amounts in the DSRA plus certain cash reserves are below a specified threshold; and revising the calculation of amounts required to cure a senior debt cover ratio default. Pursuant to the amended agreement the Company made a capital investment of $20,000 in Stendal. See Note 15 - Noncontrolling Interest for details of the investment.

[2]

On November 17, 2010, the Company completed a private offering of $300,000 in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2017 ("Senior Notes"). The Senior Notes were issued at a price of 100% of their principal amount. The Senior Notes will mature on December 1, 2017 and bear interest at 9.50% which is accrued and payable semi-annually. In July 2013, the Company issued $50,000 in aggregate principal amount of its Senior Notes. The additional notes were priced at 104.50% plus accrued interest from June 1, 2013. The net proceeds from the offering were $50,500, after deducting the underwriter's discounts, offering expenses and accrued interest. The Company used the net proceeds from the offering to repay the revolving credit facilities of the Rosenthal and Celgar mills and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the Company. The Senior Notes rank equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to any current or future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Senior Notes are effectively junior in right of payment to all borrowings of the Company's restricted subsidiaries, including borrowings under the Company's credit agreements which are secured by certain assets of its restricted subsidiaries.The Company may redeem all or a part of the Senior Notes, upon not less than 30 days' or more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) equal to 104.75% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2014, 102.38% for the twelve month period beginning on December 1, 2015, and 100.00% beginning on December 1, 2016 and at any time thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

[3]

Credit agreement with respect to a revolving credit facility of up to C$40.0 million for the Celgar mill. The credit facility matures May 2016. Borrowings under the credit facility are collateralized by the mill's inventory and receivables and are restricted by a borrowing base calculated on the mill's inventory and receivables. Canadian dollar denominated amounts bear interest at bankers acceptance plus 1.75% or Canadian prime plus 0.25%. U.S. dollar denominated amounts bear interest at LIBOR plus 1.75% or U.S. base plus 0.25%. As at December 31, 2013, C$1.7 million of this facility was supporting letters of credit and approximately C$33.3 million was available.

[4]

A €17.0 million amortizing term facility to partially finance a project, referred to as "Project Blue Mill". The facility, 80% of which is guaranteed by the State of Saxony-Anhalt, bears interest at a rate of Euribor plus 3.5% per annum. The interest period for the facility, at the choice of the Company, will be of one, three or six months duration and interest is paid on the last day of the interest period selected. The facility, together with accrued interest, is scheduled to mature in September 2017. The facility will be repaid semi-annually, commencing September 30, 2013, is collateralized by the gross assets of the Stendal mill, and will be non-recourse to Mercer Inc. As at December 31, 2013, the facility was accruing interest at a rate of 3.84%.

[5]

Loans of €26.8 million payable by the Stendal mill to its noncontrolling shareholder bear interest at a rate of 1.00% per annum and are due in 2017, provided that the Project Blue Mill facility (Note 7(d)) and the Stendal Loan Facility (Note 7(a)) have been fully repaid on such date. The loans are unsecured, subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill, non-recourse to the Company and its restricted subsidiaries. One of the loans, which has a principal amount of €0.4 million, may be repaid prior to October 1, 2017 if the DSRA has been Fully Funded for the first time and this loan is subordinated to all liabilities of the Stendal mill only until such time as the DSRA is Fully Funded for the first time.As at December 31, 2013, accrued interest on these loans was €11.1 million (2012 - €9.9 million).

[6]

A four-year amortizing investment loan agreement with a lender relating to the wash press project at the Rosenthal mill with a total facility of €4.4 million bearing interest at the rate of Euribor plus 2.75% that matures February 2014. Borrowings under this agreement are secured by the wash press equipment. As at December 31, 2013, the balance outstanding was accruing interest at a rate of 3.09%.

[7]

A €25.0 million working capital facility at the Rosenthal mill that matures in October 2016. Borrowings under the facility are collateralized by the mill's inventory and receivables and bear interest at Euribor plus 3.50%. As at December 31, 2013, approximately €0.6 million of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately €24.4 million available.

[8]

A €5.0 million facility at the Rosenthal mill that matures in December 2015. Borrowings under this facility bear interest at the rate of the three-month Euribor plus 3.50% and are secured by certain land at the Rosenthal mill. As at December 31, 2013 approximately €1.1 million of this facility was supporting bank guarantees leaving approximately €3.9 million available.

Debt_Principal_Maturities_Of_D

Debt (Principal Maturities Of Debt) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt [Abstract]	'	'
2014	$60,355	'
2015	65,566	'
2016	65,566	'
2017	787,885	'
2018	0	'
Thereafter	0	'
Total debt	$979,372	$937,985

Pension_And_Other_PostRetireme1

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Retirement Benefits [Line Items]	'	'	'
Company contributions	$2,635,000	$2,644,000	$2,450,000
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	4,636,000	-808,000	-11,203,000
Pension related accumulated other comprehensive (income) loss	16,414,000	21,050,000	'
Celgar Defined Benefit Plans [Member]	'	'	'
Retirement Benefits [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pension and other postretirement benefit contributions	2,878,000	2,941,000	'
Company contribution in the next fiscal year	1,606,000	'	'
Change in unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans (net of tax effect of $nil in all years)	-4,636,000	808,000	11,203,000
Net transition asset or obligation recognized as a reclassification adjustment of other comprehensive income	0	'	'
Amount included in other comprehensive income which is expected to be recognized in the next fiscal year	805,000	'	'
Plan assets that are expected to be returned to the Company in the next fiscal year	'0	'	'
Maximum percentage of book value that can be invested in any one entity or group	10.00%	'	'
Maximum percentage of voting shares in any one entity	30.00%	'	'
Defined Contribution Plan Jan 1, 2009 [Member]	'	'	'
Retirement Benefits [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pension contributions	$773,000	$795,000	'

Pension_And_Other_PostRetireme2

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Plan Information) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Benefit obligation, beginning balance	$76,953		$72,094
Service cost	890		869
Interest cost	2,944		3,087
Benefits payments	-3,539		-3,226
Special termination benefits	277		'
Actuarial losses	-529		2,514
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	-4,972		1,615
Benefit obligation, ending balance	72,024		76,953
Fair value of plan assets, beginning balance	33,647		30,789
Actual returns	4,686		2,449
Contributions	2,878		2,941
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	-2,300		694
Fair value of plan assets, ending balance	35,372		33,647
Funded status	-36,652	[1]	-43,306	[2]
Pension liabilities	36,796		43,450
Service cost	890		869
Interest cost	2,944		3,087
Expected return on plan assets	-2,133		-2,105
Amortization of unrecognized items	1,555		1,460
Net benefit costs	3,533		3,311
Pension Benefits [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Benefit obligation, beginning balance	48,639		46,413
Service cost	137		144
Interest cost	1,836		1,961
Benefits payments	-2,772		-2,449
Special termination benefits	277		'
Actuarial losses	-1,472		1,534
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	-3,079		1,036
Benefit obligation, ending balance	43,566		48,639
Fair value of plan assets, beginning balance	33,647		30,789
Actual returns	4,686		2,449
Contributions	2,111		2,164
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	-2,300		694
Fair value of plan assets, ending balance	35,372		33,647
Funded status	-8,194	[1]	-14,992	[2]
Service cost	137		144
Interest cost	1,836		1,961
Expected return on plan assets	-2,133		-2,105
Amortization of unrecognized items	1,439		1,453
Net benefit costs	1,556		1,453
Post-Retirement Benefits [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Benefit obligation, beginning balance	28,314		25,681
Service cost	753		725
Interest cost	1,108		1,126
Benefits payments	-767		-777
Special termination benefits	0		'
Actuarial losses	943		980
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	-1,893		579
Benefit obligation, ending balance	28,458		28,314
Fair value of plan assets, beginning balance	0		0
Actual returns	0		0
Contributions	767		777
Foreign currency exchange rate changes	0		0
Fair value of plan assets, ending balance	0		0
Funded status	-28,458	[1]	-28,314	[2]
Service cost	753		725
Interest cost	1,108		1,126
Expected return on plan assets	0		0
Amortization of unrecognized items	116		7
Net benefit costs	1,977		1,858
Rosenthal [Member]	'		'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'		'
Pension liabilities	$144		$144
[1]	The total of $36,796 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation.
[2]	The total of $43,450 on the Consolidated Balance Sheet also includes the pension liabilities of $144 relating to employees at the Company's Rosenthal operation

Recovered_Sheet2

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Estimated Future Benefit Payments) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations [Abstract]	'
2014	$3,656
2015	3,824
2016	3,943
2017	4,052
2018	4,173
2019 - 2023	$22,311

Recovered_Sheet3

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Summary Of Key Assumptions) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations [Abstract]	'	'
Benefit obligations, discount rate	4.50%	4.00%
Benefit obligations, rate of compensation increase	2.75%	2.75%
Net benefit cost, discount rate	4.00%	4.25%
Net benefit cost, rate of compensation increase	2.75%	2.75%
Net benefit cost, expected rate of return on plan assets	6.60%	6.75%
Assumed health care cost trend rate at, initial health care cost trend rate	8.00%	8.50%
Assumed health care cost trend rate at, annual rate of decline in trend rate	0.50%	0.50%
Assumed health care cost trend rate at, ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.50%	4.50%
Assumed health care cost trend rate at, medical services plan premiums trend rate	4.50%	6.00%

Pension_And_Other_PostRetireme3

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (A One Percentage Point Change in Assumed Health Cost Trend Effect) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations [Abstract]	'	'
Effect on total service and interest rate components, 1% increase	$51	$50
Effect on total service and interest rate components, 1% decrease	-53	-53
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation, 1% increase	927	957
Effect on post-retirement benefit obligation, 1% decrease	($896)	($921)

Pension_And_Other_PostRetireme4

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Asset Allocation Of Funded Plans) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Actual plan asset allocations	100.00%	100.00%
Equity Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Target plan asset allocations	60.00%	'
Actual plan asset allocations	64.00%	58.00%
Debt Securities [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Target plan asset allocations	40.00%	'
Actual plan asset allocations	36.00%	42.00%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Target plan asset allocations	0.00%	'
Actual plan asset allocations	0.00%	0.00%

Pension_And_Other_PostRetireme5

Pension And Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Fair Value Measurements) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	$35,372	$33,647	$30,789
Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	22,458	'	'
Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	12,821	'	'
Cash [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	93	'	'
Fair Value, Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	35,372	'	'
Fair Value, Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	22,458	'	'
Fair Value, Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	12,821	'	'
Fair Value, Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Cash [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	93	'	'
Fair Value, Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Cash [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Leith Wheeler Diversified Funds [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Phillips, Hagar and North Bond Fund [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	0	'	'
Fair Value, Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Cash [Member]	'	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value measurements	$0	'	'

Recovered_Sheet4

Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefit Obligations (Multiemployer Plan Details) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'
Company contributions	$2,635	$2,644	$2,450
The Pulp and Paper Industry Pension Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Multiemployer Plans [Line Items]	'	'	'
Provincially registered plan number	'P085324	'	'
Expiration date of collective bargaining agreement	30-Apr-17	'	'
Are the company's contributions greater than 5% of total contributions	'true	'true	'

Income_Taxes_Narrative_Details

Income Taxes (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Unrecognized tax benefit	'	'	$82,934	$1,427
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Decreases Resulting from Prior Period Tax Positions	'	-82,934	-1,427	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Increases Resulting from Current Period Tax Positions	'	'	82,934	'
Liability for Uncertain Tax Positions, Current	0	0	8,605	'
Recognized interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefit	'	0	134	'
Valuation allowance	4,137	-140,768	-123,728	-106,199
Increase In Current Income Tax Expense Due To Settlements With Taxing Authorities Subsequent To Period End	4,270	'	'	'
Germany	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	528,700	'	'
Interest carryforward	'	162,700	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards, expiration dates	'	'no expiration date	'	'
Interest carryforward, expiration dates	'	'no expiration date	'	'
United States	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	125,700	'	'
United States | Expiration Date 2019 To 2023 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	6,200	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards, expiration dates	'	'2019 to 2023	'	'
United States | Expiration Date 2024 to 2033 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	119,500	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards, expiration dates	'	'2024 to 2033	'	'
Canada	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	43,800	'	'
Canada | Expiration Date 2015 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	12,300	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards, expiration dates	'	'2015	'	'
Canada | Start of Expiration Date 2029 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards	'	31,500	'	'
Tax loss carryforwards, expiration dates	'	'begin to expire in the tax year ending 2029	'	'
Scientific Research And Experimental Development [Member] | Canada	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest carryforward, expiration dates	'	'begin to expire in the taxation year 2030	'	'
Other Tax Carryforward, Description	'	'Canadian investment tax credits for scientific research and experimental development	'	'
Scientific Research And Experimental Development [Member] | Canada | Start of Expiration Date 2030 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax credit carryforward	'	4,600	'	'
Foreign Tax Credit [Member] | United States | Start of Expiration Date 2030 [Member]	'	'	'	'
Income Taxes Disclosures [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Tax credit carryforward	'	$700	'	'

Income_Taxes_Reconciliation_Of

Income Taxes (Reconciliation Of Effective Tax Rate) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
U.S. Federal statutory rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
U.S. Federal statutory rate on (income) loss before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	$5,797	$1,439	($25,971)
Tax differential on foreign income	736	874	7,892
Effect of foreign earnings	-945	-8,382	-13,788
Valuation Allowance	-17,040	-17,529	12,897
Tax benefit of partnership structure	5,942	6,785	7,285
Pension adjustment	-1,206	174	2,595
Non-taxable foreign subsidiaries	1,696	1,897	5,601
Research and development expense	1,319	3,436	0
Prior year true-ups	-5,749	0	0
Other	254	1,927	4,457
Total income tax benefit (provision)	-9,196	-9,379	968
Income tax benefit (provision) - current	2,286	-9,531	-2,341
Income tax benefit (provision) - deferred	($11,482)	$152	$3,309

Income_Taxes_Deferred_Tax_Asse

Income Taxes (Deferred Tax Assets And Liabilities) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
German tax loss carryforwards	$123,735	$100,251
U.S. tax loss carryforwards	44,718	36,090
Canadian tax loss carryfowards	11,606	40,992
Basis difference between income tax and financial reporting with respect to operating pulp mills	-64,252	-71,191
Derivative financial instruments	13,060	18,760
Long-term debt	2,204	2,066
Payable and accrued expenses	578	-257
Deferred pension liability	9,605	10,810
Capital leases	2,574	2,816
Research and development expense pool	4,573	3,523
Other	1,400	1,323
Total gross deferred tax asset	149,801	145,183
Valuation allowance	-140,768	-123,728
Net deferred tax asset	9,033	21,455
Deferred income tax asset - current	6,326	5,887
Deferred income tax asset - non-current	17,157	23,159
Deferred income tax liability - non-current	($14,450)	($7,591)

Income_Taxes_Valuation_Allowan

Income Taxes (Valuation Allowance) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Valuation allowance, beginning of period	($4,137)	$140,768	$123,728	$106,199
Valuation Allowance - United States	'	10,134	477	'
Valuation Allowance - Canada	'	12,324	15,844	'
Valuation Allowance - Germany	'	-5,681	-71	'
Valuation Allowance - Change Due To Foreign Exchange	'	263	1,279	'
Valuation allowance, end of period	($4,137)	$140,768	$123,728	$106,199

Share_Capital_Details

Share Capital (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Share Capital [Line Items]	'	'	'
Common shares, authorized	200,000,000	200,000,000	'
Common shares, par value	1	'	'
Common shares, issued	55,853,704	55,815,704	'
Common shares, outstanding	55,853,704	55,815,704	'
Preferred shares, authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000	'
Preferred shares, par value	1	'	'
Preferred shares, issued	0	'	'
Series A [Member]	'	'	'
Share Capital [Line Items]	'	'	'
Preferred shares, authorized	2,000,000	'	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share Capital [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares granted	38,000	36,500	238,000

StockBased_Compensation_Narrat

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Common shares available for grant	1,100,000	'	'	'
Performance Share Units [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expense recognized	$2,882	$1,546	$1,274	'
Performance Shares [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Outstanding shares	0	'	'	'
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expense recognized	692	1,070	1,389	'
Shares granted	38,000	36,500	238,000	'
Vesting period	'1 year	'	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	511	937	'	'
Outstanding shares	158,000	196,500	238,000	56,000
Restricted Shares, 2011 Grant To Chief Executive Officer [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Shares granted	'	200,000	'	'
Vesting period	'	'5 years	'	'
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Expense recognized	0	0	0	'
Stock options granted	0	0	0	'
Stock options exercised	0	0	0	'
Stock options expired	100,000	0	15,000	'
Stock options cancelled	0	0	0	'
Stock options with an exercise price below the Company's quoted market price	75,000	100,000	100,000	'
Stock options outstanding intrinsic value	$172	$151	$45	'

StockBased_Compensation_Summar

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Share Activity - PSU's) (Details) (Performance Share Units [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Performance Share Units [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Outstanding - Beginning	786,129	795,312	534,783
Granted	40,499	55,478	812,575
Vested and issued	0	0	-474,728
Cancelled	0	0	-60,055
Forfeited	-35,196	-64,661	-17,263
Outstanding - Ending	791,432	786,129	795,312

StockBased_Compensation_Summar1

Stock-Based Compensation (Summary Of Share Activity - Restricted Shares) (Details) (Restricted Stock [Member])	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Outstanding - Beginning	196,500	238,000	56,000
Granted	38,000	36,500	238,000
Vested	-76,500	-78,000	-56,000
Outstanding - Ending	158,000	196,500	238,000

StockBased_Compensation_Status

Stock-Based Compensation (Status of Options Outstanding) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Range Two [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Outstanding options, exercise price	$7.30
Outstanding options, number	30,000
Outstanding options, weighted average years of remaining contractual life (years)	'1 year 6 months 27 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price	$7.30
Exercise options, Number	30,000
Exercise options, weighted average exercise price	$7.30
Range Three [Member]	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'
Outstanding options, exercise price	$7.92
Outstanding options, number	45,000
Outstanding options, weighted average years of remaining contractual life (years)	'1 year 8 months 9 days
Outstanding options, weighted average exercise price	$7.92
Exercise options, Number	45,000
Exercise options, weighted average exercise price	$7.92

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Share_Attr2

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share Effect Of Dilutive Instruments [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders - basic	($26,375)		($15,670)		$69,699
Interest on convertible notes, net of tax	0		0		1,110
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders - diluted	($26,375)		($15,670)		$70,809
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders, Basic	($0.47)		($0.28)		$1.39
Net income (loss) per share attributable to common shareholders, Diluted	($0.47)		($0.28)		$1.24
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, Basic	55,673,838	[1]	55,596,761	[1]	50,116,982	[1]
Weighted average of number of common shares outstanding, Diluted	55,673,838		55,596,761		56,986,019
Performance Shares And PSUs [Member]	'		'		'
Earnings Per Share Effect Of Dilutive Instruments [Line Items]	'		'		'
Effect of dilutive instruments	0		0		544,853
Restricted Stock [Member]	'		'		'
Earnings Per Share Effect Of Dilutive Instruments [Line Items]	'		'		'
Effect of dilutive instruments	0		0		87,923
Contingently issuable shares excluded from the basic weighted average shares outstanding	158,000		196,500		238,000
Stock Options [Member]	'		'		'
Earnings Per Share Effect Of Dilutive Instruments [Line Items]	'		'		'
Effect of dilutive instruments	0		0		57,483
Convertible Debt Securities [Member]	'		'		'
Earnings Per Share Effect Of Dilutive Instruments [Line Items]	'		'		'
Incremental common shares attributable to conversion of convertible notes	0		0		6,178,778
[1]	The basic weighted average number of shares excludes 158,000 restricted shares which have been issued, but have not vested as at December 31, 2013 (2012 - 196,500 restricted shares; 2011 - 238,000 restricted shares).

Net_Income_Loss_Per_Share_Attr3

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable To Common Shareholders (Anti-dilutive Instruments) (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Performance Share Units [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from EPS computation	791,432	786,129	0
Restricted Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from EPS computation	158,000	196,500	0
Stock Options [Member]	'	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from EPS computation	75,000	175,000	0

Restructuring_Expenses_Details

Restructuring Expenses (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
				Stendal Pulp Mill [Member]	Celgar Pulp Mill [Member]	Celgar Pulp Mill [Member]
					employee
Expected workforce reduction	'	'	'	'	85	'
Restructuring expenses	$6,415	$0	$0	$1,386	'	$5,029
Restructuring reserve current	'	'	'	1,096	'	2,898
Restructuring expenses effect on future earnings, amount	'	'	'	'	'	$600

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax [Abstract]	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	$47,756	$49,489
Unrecognized losses and prior service costs related to defined benefit plans	-16,414	-21,050
Unrealized gains on marketable securities	128	138
Accumulated other comprehensive income	$31,470	$28,577

Noncontrolling_Interest_Detail

Noncontrolling Interest (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
[NoncontrollingInterestAbstract]	'	'
Noncontrolling interest decrease from purchase of interest	$9,974	'
Minority interest ownership percentage by parent	83.00%	74.90%
Parent capital contribution to subsidiary	20,000	'
Noncontrolling interest change in ownership parent	8.10%	'
Loss on acquisition of a portion of the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary	$10,118	'

Business_Segment_Information_S

Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Net Sales To External Customers By Geographic Area) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
	segment
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	$1,088,385		$1,072,736		$1,251,964
Number of operating segments	3		'		'
Number of reportable segments	1		'		'
Pulp Revenues [Member] | CHINA	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	300,827		295,797		326,610
Pulp Revenues [Member] | Germany	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	309,399		293,733		357,106
Pulp Revenues [Member] | Other European Union Countries [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	224,988	[1]	216,846	[1]	244,884	[1]
Pulp Revenues [Member] | North America [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	30,404		61,103		96,520
Pulp Revenues [Member] | ITALY	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	65,654		55,443		71,695
Pulp Revenues [Member] | Other Asia [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	49,855		42,692		42,970
Pulp Revenues [Member] | Other Countries [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	2,748		2,099		1,146
Pulp Revenues [Member] | Total Geographical Revenue [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	983,875		967,713		1,140,931
Energy And Chemical Revenues [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	92,198		92,966		94,758
Third Party Transportation Revenues [Member]	'		'		'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	$12,312		$12,057		$16,275
[1]	Not including Germany or Italy; includes new entrant countries to the European Union from their time of admission.

Business_Segment_Information_S1

Business Segment Information (Schedule Of Long Lived Assets By Geographic Area) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
	customer	customer	customer
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-lived assets	$1,038,631	$1,066,506	'
Number of customers accounting for 10% or more of pulp sales	2	1	0
Revenue major customer percentage	'	11.00%	'
Customer 1 [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenue major customer percentage	10.00%	'	'
Customer 2 [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Revenue major customer percentage	11.00%	'	'
Germany	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-lived assets	843,777	839,535	'
Canada	'	'	'
Revenues from External Customers and Long-Lived Assets [Line Items]	'	'	'
Long-lived assets	$194,854	$226,971	'

Derivative_Transactions_Narrat

Derivative Transactions (Narrative) (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2004	Nov. 30, 2012	31-May-12	Nov. 30, 2012	Nov. 30, 2012
	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	USD ($)	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Interest Rate Swap [Member]	Pulp Price Swap Contract [Member]	Pulp Price Swap Contract [Member]	Pulp Price Swap Contract [Member]	Pulp Price Swap Contract [Member]
					EUR (€)	EUR (€)	t	USD ($)	Minimum [Member]	Maximum [Member]
								t	USD ($)	USD ($)
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Aggregate maximum principal amount of the Stendal loan facility covered by interest rate swaps	'	'	'	'	'	€ 612,600,000	'	'	'	'
Aggregate notional amount of interest rate swap	'	'	'	'	306,800,000	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative fixed interest rate	'	'	'	'	5.28%	'	'	'	'	'
Derivative maturity date	'	'	'	'	1-Oct-17	'	1-Dec-13	1-Dec-12	'	'
Metric tonnes of pulp hedged per month	'	'	'	'	'	'	3,000	5,000	'	'
Swap contract fixed price of pulp per metric tonne	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	915	880	890
Cash and cash equivalents	147,728,000	137,439,000	136,299,000	132,600,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Receivables	$135,893,000	$145,150,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'

Derivative_Transactions_Schedu

Derivative Transactions (Schedule of Derivatives) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Derivative Transactions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Gain (loss) on interest rate derivative contract	$22,476	$2,204	($1,974)
Gain (loss) on pulp price derivative contracts	-2,767	2,608	0
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments total	$19,709	$4,812	($1,974)

Financial_Instruments_Fair_Val

Financial Instruments (Fair Value Of Financial Instruments) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financial Instruments [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$147,728	$137,439	$136,299	$132,600
Marketable securities	217	243	'	'
Receivables	135,893	145,150	'	'
Pulp price derivative contracts - asset, carrying value and fair value	0	982	'	'
Accounts payable and other	103,814	118,599	'	'
Debt	979,372	937,985	'	'
Interest rate derivative contract - liability, carrying value and fair value	46,517	66,819	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents, Fair Value	147,728	137,439	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair Value	217	243	'	'
Receivables, Fair Value	135,893	145,150	'	'
Pulp price derivative contracts - asset, Fair Value and Carrying Value	0	982	'	'
Accounts payable and other excluding derivatives, Fair Value	103,814	118,599	'	'
Debt, Fair Value	$980,982	$922,951	'	'

Financial_Instruments_Outstand

Financial Instruments (Outstanding Financial Instruments And Estimated Fair Values) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair Value	$217	$243
Derivative - pulp price derivative contracts	0	982
Fair value measurements - Assets	'	1,225
Derivative - interest rate derivative contract	46,517	66,819
Debt, Fair Value	980,982	922,951
Fair value measurements - Liabilities	1,027,499	989,770
Fair Value, Quoted Prices In Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair Value	217	243
Derivative - pulp price derivative contracts	'	0
Fair value measurements - Assets	'	243
Derivative - interest rate derivative contract	0	0
Debt, Fair Value	0	0
Fair value measurements - Liabilities	0	0
Fair Value, Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair Value	0	0
Derivative - pulp price derivative contracts	'	982
Fair value measurements - Assets	'	982
Derivative - interest rate derivative contract	46,517	66,819
Debt, Fair Value	367,405	308,894
Fair value measurements - Liabilities	413,922	375,713
Fair Value, Significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable securities, Fair Value	0	0
Derivative - pulp price derivative contracts	'	0
Fair value measurements - Assets	'	0
Derivative - interest rate derivative contract	0	0
Debt, Fair Value	613,577	614,057
Fair value measurements - Liabilities	$613,577	$614,057

Lease_Commitments_Details

Lease Commitments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Lease Commitments [Abstract]	'	'	'
Capital lease, 2014	$2,406	'	'
Capital lease, 2015	2,414	'	'
Capital lease, 2016	2,263	'	'
Capital lease, 2017	1,511	'	'
Capital lease, 2018	880	'	'
Capital lease, Thereafter	3,111	'	'
Capital Leases, Total	12,585	'	'
Less: imputed interest	1,771	'	'
Total present value of minimum capitalized payments	10,814	'	'
Less: current portion of capital lease obligations	2,254	2,582	'
Long-term capital lease obligations	8,560	'	'
Operating leases, 2014	2,280	'	'
Operating leases, 2015	2,076	'	'
Operating leases, 2016	1,295	'	'
Operating leases, 2017	1,239	'	'
Operating leases, 2018	1,237	'	'
Operating leases, Thereafter	929	'	'
Operating leases, Total	9,056	'	'
Rent expense	$3,497	$3,866	$4,611

Commitments_And_Contingencies_

Commitments And Contingencies (Details)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jan. 28, 2011	Jan. 28, 2011
	USD ($)	CAD	EUR (€)	USD ($)	USD ($)	EUR (€)
Commitments And Contingencies [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Waste water fees liability	$6,929	'	'	$8,765	'	'
Asset retirement obligation	5,549	'	'	5,605	'	'
Compensation For Remediation Work	'	'	'	'	13,606	10,000
Compensation For Remediation Work In Accounts Payable And Other	2,437	'	'	'	13,606	10,000
Property tansfer tax assessment in dispute	4,200	4,500	'	'	'	'
German government grants under review	$11,400	'	€ 8,300	'	'	'

Restricted_Group_Supplemental_2

Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (Combined Condensed Balance Sheets) (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$147,728	$137,439	$136,299	$132,600
Receivables	135,893	145,150	'	'
Inventories	170,908	155,979	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	10,918	10,425	'	'
Deferred income tax	6,326	5,887	'	'
Total current assets	471,773	454,880	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	1,038,631	1,066,506	'	'
Deferred note issuance and other	20,998	16,036	'	'
Deferred income tax	17,157	23,159	'	'
Due from unrestricted group	0	0	'	'
Total assets	1,548,559	1,560,581	'	'
Accounts payable and other	103,814	118,599	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	1,330	1,072	'	'
Debt	60,355	60,205	'	'
Total current liabilities	165,499	179,876	'	'
Debt, Long Term	919,017	877,780	'	'
Due to restricted group	0	0	'	'
Interest rate derivative liability	46,517	66,819	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	35,466	42,378	'	'
Capital leases and other	19,293	18,375	'	'
Deferred income tax	14,450	7,591	'	'
Total liabilities	1,200,242	1,192,819	'	'
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	359,078	389,104	'	'
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)	-10,761	-21,342	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	1,548,559	1,560,581	'	'
Restricted Group [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	82,910	48,407	58,152	67,830
Receivables	75,987	80,708	'	'
Inventories	93,807	98,606	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	7,742	7,661	'	'
Deferred income tax	3,273	2,885	'	'
Total current assets	263,719	238,267	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	420,373	455,293	'	'
Deferred note issuance and other	10,987	8,712	'	'
Deferred income tax	9,894	12,102	'	'
Due from unrestricted group	153,851	134,897	'	'
Total assets	858,824	849,271	'	'
Accounts payable and other	49,891	55,517	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	1,330	1,072	'	'
Debt	749	7,465	'	'
Total current liabilities	51,970	64,054	'	'
Debt, Long Term	336,382	285,079	'	'
Due to restricted group	0	0	'	'
Interest rate derivative liability	0	0	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	35,466	42,378	'	'
Capital leases and other	8,523	8,008	'	'
Deferred income tax	14,450	7,591	'	'
Total liabilities	446,791	407,110	'	'
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	412,033	442,161	'	'
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	858,824	849,271	'	'
Unrestricted Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	64,818	89,032	78,147	64,770
Receivables	59,906	64,442	'	'
Inventories	77,101	57,373	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	3,176	2,764	'	'
Deferred income tax	3,053	3,002	'	'
Total current assets	208,054	216,613	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	618,258	611,213	'	'
Deferred note issuance and other	10,011	7,324	'	'
Deferred income tax	7,263	11,057	'	'
Due from unrestricted group	0	0	'	'
Total assets	843,586	846,207	'	'
Accounts payable and other	53,923	63,082	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	0	0	'	'
Debt	59,606	52,740	'	'
Total current liabilities	113,529	115,822	'	'
Debt, Long Term	582,635	592,701	'	'
Due to restricted group	153,851	134,897	'	'
Interest rate derivative liability	46,517	66,819	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	0	0	'	'
Capital leases and other	10,770	10,367	'	'
Deferred income tax	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities	907,302	920,606	'	'
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	-52,955	-53,057	'	'
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)	-10,761	-21,342	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	843,586	846,207	'	'
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0	'	'
Receivables	0	0	'	'
Inventories	0	0	'	'
Prepaid expenses and other	0	0	'	'
Deferred income tax	0	0	'	'
Total current assets	0	0	'	'
Property, plant and equipment	0	0	'	'
Deferred note issuance and other	0	0	'	'
Deferred income tax	0	0	'	'
Due from unrestricted group	-153,851	-134,897	'	'
Total assets	-153,851	-134,897	'	'
Accounts payable and other	0	0	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	0	0	'	'
Debt	0	0	'	'
Total current liabilities	0	0	'	'
Debt, Long Term	0	0	'	'
Due to restricted group	-153,851	-134,897	'	'
Interest rate derivative liability	0	0	'	'
Pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations	0	0	'	'
Capital leases and other	0	0	'	'
Deferred income tax	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities	-153,851	-134,897	'	'
Total shareholders' equity (deficit)	0	0	'	'
Noncontrolling interest (deficit)	0	0	'	'
Total liabilities and equity	($153,851)	($134,897)	'	'

Restricted_Group_Supplemental_3

Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (Combined Condensed Statements Of Operations) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pulp	$996,187	$979,770	$1,157,206
Energy and chemicals	92,198	92,966	94,758
Total revenues	1,088,385	1,072,736	1,251,964
Operating costs	920,832	886,144	965,723
Operating depreciation and amortization	78,309	74,302	77,611
Selling, general and administrative expenses	51,169	49,268	53,965
Restructuring expenses	6,415	0	0
Operating expenses	1,056,725	1,009,714	1,097,299
Operating income	31,660	63,022	154,665
Interest expense	-69,156	-71,767	-82,114
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments	19,709	4,812	-1,974
Other income (expense)	1,215	-179	3,625
Total other income (expense)	-48,232	-67,134	-80,463
Income (loss) before income taxes	-16,572	-4,112	74,202
Income tax benefit (provision)	-9,196	-9,379	968
Net income (loss)	-25,768	-13,491	75,170
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-607	-2,179	-5,471
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	-26,375	-15,670	69,699
Restricted Group [Member]	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pulp	561,350	545,205	659,741
Energy and chemicals	33,783	36,638	35,455
Total revenues	595,133	581,843	695,196
Operating costs	498,952	500,223	532,471
Operating depreciation and amortization	43,498	40,118	41,535
Selling, general and administrative expenses	31,943	31,688	33,581
Restructuring expenses	5,029	'	'
Operating expenses	579,422	572,029	607,587
Operating income	15,711	9,814	87,609
Interest expense	-32,321	-30,125	-34,639
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments	-2,767	2,609	0
Other income (expense)	9,217	6,465	8,860
Total other income (expense)	-25,871	-21,051	-25,779
Income (loss) before income taxes	-10,160	-11,237	61,830
Income tax benefit (provision)	-9,365	-7,050	-6,422
Net income (loss)	-19,525	-18,287	55,408
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	-19,525	-18,287	55,408
Unrestricted Subsidiaries [Member]	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pulp	434,837	434,565	497,465
Energy and chemicals	58,415	56,328	59,303
Total revenues	493,252	490,893	556,768
Operating costs	421,880	385,921	433,252
Operating depreciation and amortization	34,811	34,184	36,076
Selling, general and administrative expenses	19,226	17,580	20,384
Restructuring expenses	1,386	'	'
Operating expenses	477,303	437,685	489,712
Operating income	15,949	53,208	67,056
Interest expense	-45,011	-48,934	-54,386
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments	22,476	2,203	-1,974
Other income (expense)	174	648	1,676
Total other income (expense)	-22,361	-46,083	-54,684
Income (loss) before income taxes	-6,412	7,125	12,372
Income tax benefit (provision)	169	-2,329	7,390
Net income (loss)	-6,243	4,796	19,762
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	-607	-2,179	-5,471
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	-6,850	2,617	14,291
Eliminations [Member]	'	'	'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pulp	0	0	0
Energy and chemicals	0	0	0
Total revenues	0	0	0
Operating costs	0	0	0
Operating depreciation and amortization	0	0	0
Selling, general and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Restructuring expenses	0	'	'
Operating expenses	0	0	0
Operating income	0	0	0
Interest expense	8,176	7,292	6,911
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments	0	0	0
Other income (expense)	-8,176	-7,292	-6,911
Total other income (expense)	0	0	0
Income (loss) before income taxes	0	0	0
Income tax benefit (provision)	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0	0
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$0	$0	$0

Restricted_Group_Supplemental_4

Restricted Group Supplemental Disclosure (Combined Condensed Statements Of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net income (loss)	($25,768)		($13,491)		$75,170
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	-21,494		-3,186		1,974
Depreciation and amortization	78,645		74,657		77,952
Deferred income taxes	11,482		-152		-3,309
Stock compensation expense	3,574		2,616		4,607
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding	648		365		-374
Other	3,169		4,991		1,116
Receivables	13,993		10,795		-2,233
Inventories	-14,563		1,726		-24,654
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-11,569		-17,992		19,837
Other	-1,792	[1]	-1,214	[1]	4,490	[1]
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	36,325		59,115		154,576
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-45,707		-47,203		-52,626
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (Note 15)	0		'		'
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment	739		840		1,132
Note receivable	0		0		3,988
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities	0		15,753		0
Purchase of marketable securities	0		0		-16,343
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	-44,968		-30,610		-63,849
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes	-56,416		-35,440		-67,702
Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt	74,472		0		0
Repayment of capital lease obligations	-2,593		-2,733		-4,095
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net	-5,640		6,031		-20,491
Payment of note issuance costs	-3,855		-2,570		0
Proceeds from government grants	9,265		5,045		20,049
Purchase of treasury shares	0		0		-10,623
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	15,233		-29,667		-82,862
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,699		2,302		-4,166
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	10,289		1,140		3,699
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	137,439		136,299		132,600
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	147,728		137,439		136,299
Restricted Group [Member]	'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net income (loss)	-19,525		-18,287		55,408
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	982		-983		0
Depreciation and amortization	43,833		40,474		41,875
Deferred income taxes	7,263		6,660		4,160
Stock compensation expense	3,574		2,616		4,607
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding	648		365		-374
Other	-360		1,574		431
Receivables	4,780		-755		4,530
Inventories	1,965		-5,132		-14,162
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-6,026		-9,576		8,167
Other	-13,621	[1]	-20,292	[1]	-11,836	[1]
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	23,513		-3,336		92,806
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-13,183		-28,213		-41,079
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (Note 15)	-20,000		'		'
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment	581		470		456
Note receivable	'		'		3,988
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities	'		15,753		'
Purchase of marketable securities	'		'		-16,343
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	-32,602		-11,990		-52,978
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes	-1,459		-3,378		-35,477
Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt	52,250		'		'
Repayment of capital lease obligations	-725		-945		-1,823
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net	-5,640		6,031		-20,491
Payment of note issuance costs	-1,829		-409		'
Proceeds from government grants	0		4,061		19,898
Purchase of treasury shares	'		'		-10,623
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	42,597		5,360		-48,516
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	995		221		-990
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	34,503		-9,745		-9,678
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	48,407		58,152		67,830
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	82,910		48,407		58,152
Unrestricted Subsidiaries [Member]	'		'		'
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]	'		'		'
Net income (loss)	-6,243		4,796		19,762
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	-22,476		-2,203		1,974
Depreciation and amortization	34,812		34,183		36,077
Deferred income taxes	4,219		-6,812		-7,469
Stock compensation expense	0		0		0
Pension and other post-retirement expense, net of funding	0		0		0
Other	3,529		3,417		685
Receivables	9,213		11,550		-6,763
Inventories	-16,528		6,858		-10,492
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-5,543		-8,416		11,670
Other	11,829	[1]	19,078	[1]	16,326	[1]
Net cash from (used in) operating activities	12,812		62,451		61,770
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	-32,524		-18,990		-11,547
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest (Note 15)	20,000		'		'
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment	158		370		676
Note receivable	'		'		0
Proceeds on maturity of marketable securities	'		0		'
Purchase of marketable securities	'		'		0
Net cash from (used in) investing activities	-12,366		-18,620		-10,871
Repayment of debt and purchase of notes	-54,957		-32,062		-32,225
Proceeds from issuance of notes and borrowings of debt	22,222		'		'
Repayment of capital lease obligations	-1,868		-1,788		-2,272
Proceeds from (repayment of) credit facilities, net	0		0		0
Payment of note issuance costs	-2,026		-2,161		'
Proceeds from government grants	9,265		984		151
Purchase of treasury shares	'		'		0
Net cash from (used in) financing activities	-27,364		-35,027		-34,346
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2,704		2,081		-3,176
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	-24,214		10,885		13,377
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	89,032		78,147		64,770
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$64,818		$89,032		$78,147
[1]	Includes intercompany working capital related transactions.