Default values assume the worst about you.
Your carbon number exists whether or not you measure it. The only question is who calculates it, and whether they have any reason to be generous.
Current as of October 2026. CBAM rules are changing quickly; check the position before acting on anything here.
Every consignment stacked here now carries a carbon number to the European border. The only question is whether it is yours or a default.
What changed
Since 1 January 2026, EU importers of covered goods pay for the carbon embedded in them. The first bill, for 2026 imports, is settled on 30 September 2027.
So your buyer already has a reason to prefer suppliers with verified numbers, and a year to switch.
Why it costs you
Without verified data, the EU applies a default value, set high on purpose. You pay the difference, through a lower price or a lost order.
Using your actual figure means having it verified by an accredited third party.
Your real number beats the default
CBAM compares the number you can prove with a default built to be worse than reality.
Defaults are set to overcharge
They carry a mark-up of 10% in 2026, rising to 30% from 2028. A verified actual figure avoids it.
For metals, the grid is not on the bill
Steel and aluminium are charged on the emissions from your own process. That is the number only you can measure.
Small shipments are exempt
Below 50 tonnes of covered goods per importer per year, no CBAM obligation applies.
The cost rises every year
It phases in until 2034, so the gap between a verified number and a default keeps growing.