The increases, which have attracted criticism from Finland and the European Commission, are in phases with a second hike to €15 per m3 scheduled for April 2008 and a further increase up to €50 planned for the start of 2009.
The move puts further pressure on raw material supply to Finland, which is a big user of Russian wood. Finland has already expressed its concern that Russia will be in breach of its World Trade Organisation entry terms by going ahead with the duties.
The Finnish Forest Industries Federation, the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European commissioner for trade Peter Mandelson have all taken up the issue with the Russian authorities.
Finland normally imports about 20% of its logs from Russia but the figures for 2005/06 showed Russian imports had increased to 25%.