CBAM for steel: what each imported tonne costs from 2026
Since 1 January 2026, steel imports carry a carbon price. If your suppliers cannot provide actual emissions data, default values with a growing mark-up apply. The production route of your supplier makes a difference of several hundred euros per tonne.
The definitive period has started
Above 50 tonnes of CBAM goods per year, only authorised CBAM declarants may import. Certificates go on sale on 1 February 2027; the first annual declaration for 2026 is due by 30 September 2027.
Default values are expensive
Without supplier data, the default value applies: 2.310 tCO₂e/t for billets and rebar from Türkiye, plus a mark-up of 10 % in 2026, 20 % in 2027 and 30 % from 2028.
The route sets the benchmark
The benchmark is 1.364 tCO₂e/t for blast furnace steel and 0.066 for scrap-based EAF steel. Buying EAF steel only pays off if the supplier proves its low emissions.
Your sector in numbers
CBAM cost per tonne for goods from Türkiye, based on the EU default value and benchmark at the Q3 2026 certificate price (€82.32/tCO₂e).
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| EU default value (Türkiye) | 2.310 tCO₂e / tonne |
| with the 10 % mark-up in 2026 | 2.541 tCO₂e / tonne |
| Benchmark | 0.066 tCO₂e / tonne |
| Cost per tonne in 2026 | €203.88 |
| Cost per tonne in 2030 | €244.41 |
| Cost per tonne once free allocation ends (2034) | €247.21 |
Worked example
An importer buying 10,000 tonnes of rebar a year from a scrap-based EAF mill in Türkiye.
Where do the emissions come from?
For iron and steel, CBAM counts direct emissions and the embedded emissions of precursors. Indirect emissions from electricity are not included for now.
- Electrode consumption, charge and injection carbon in the electric arc furnace
- Natural gas in ladle, reheating and heat treatment furnaces
- Slag formers such as lime and dolomite
- Purchased pig iron, DRI, HBI and ferro-alloys (precursors)
- Fuel use in rolling mills and auxiliary units
What CO₂ Manager and our team do
Collect supplier data
Request emissions data from your mills in the CBAM format, check plausibility and see at once where defaults are still used.
CBAM check by CN code
Our CBAM control shows which of your goods are covered and which values apply.
Plan certificate costs
Forecast costs per supplier and product for 2026 to 2034 and use them in purchasing negotiations.
Your own GHG inventory
If you produce in the EU yourself: EU ETS data and an ISO 14064-1 inventory from one dataset, ready for verification.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays for CBAM certificates?
The authorised CBAM declarant in the EU, usually the importer. In practice the cost is negotiated into purchase prices, which is why suppliers with verified low emissions gain an advantage.
Does a carbon price paid in Türkiye reduce my costs?
The regulation allows a carbon price effectively paid in the country of origin to be deducted. During the Turkish ETS pilot phase free allocation is 100 %, so the deductible amount in 2026 and 2027 will be limited.
Do I need certificates for 2026 imports already?
Yes. 2026 imports are declared by 30 September 2027 and covered with certificates bought from 1 February 2027 at the 2026 quarterly prices.
First your obligations, then your costs
Find out in two minutes whether EU ETS or CBAM applies to you, then calculate the carbon cost for your product and volume. We help you replace estimates with real data.
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2023/956; Implementing Regulations (EU) 2025/2620, 2025/2621 and 2026/1740; European Commission CBAM certificate price (Q3 2026); Directive 2003/87/EC (EU ETS). All figures are indicative. European Commission: CBAM · European Commission: EU ETS