CBAM

CBAM 2026: What Importers Need to Know

The carbon border tax is live. If you import cement, steel, aluminium, fertilisers, hydrogen, or electricity into the EU, you now pay.

What changed on 1 January 2026

CBAM moved from reporting-only to financial obligations. Importers must now purchase CBAM certificates for embedded CO₂.

Covered goods

Cement · Iron & steel · Aluminium · Fertilisers · Hydrogen · Electricity

Check your CN codes against [Annex I of Reg. (EU) 2023/956](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/956/oj).

Cost formula

CBAM cost = Embedded emissions (tCO₂) × EU ETS price (€/t)

Example: 1,000t hot-rolled steel from India at default factor 2.115 tCO₂/t, ETS at €65/t:

1,000 × 2.115 × €65 = €137,475

If the origin country has a carbon price, you deduct it.

Calculate your exposure

→ [CBAM Cost Calculator](/tools/cbam) — model your annual cost by product category, tonnage, and origin.

Deadlines

  • Quarterly: purchase certificates via CBAM registry
  • 31 May annually: file CBAM declaration for previous year

Source

[Regulation (EU) 2023/956](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/956/oj)