2026 Briefing
EU CBAM 2026: The New Carbon Duty on Global Imports
EU CBAM explained: the carbon duty on steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser and hydrogen imports, 2026 certificate prices, phase-in and default values.Why CBAM
Stopping carbon leakage
Imports now pay the same carbon price as EU producers do under the EU ETS.Since 1 Jan 2026
The duty is now real
2026 imports carry a carbon liability. Certificates go on sale on 1 February 2027. Source: European Commission.Covered goods
Six sectors
Metals steel, aluminium. Materials cement, fertilisers. Energy hydrogen, power.Emissions scope
Direct, plus some indirect
Cement and fertilisers also count power used in production. Steel, aluminium and hydrogen count direct only.Certificate price
Set by the EU ETS
Q1 2026 €75.36. Q2 2026 €75.28. Q3 2026 €82.32.Phase-in
Priced share rises to 100%
2026 2.5%. 2028 10%. 2030 48.5%. 2034 100%.Default values
Defaults cost more
Mark-ups of 10% in 2026, 20% in 2027 and 30% from 2028. Verified actual data avoids them.Worked example
1,000 t of steel
2026 €50,800. 2030 €102,320. 2034 €160,000.Who complies
Above 50 t a year
Importers need authorised declarant status. The first annual declaration is due 30 Sep 2027.Your next step