Disclaimer: All cost calculations provided by this tool are approximate estimates based on available product benchmarks and country-level default values which are subject to change. Furthermore, EUA prices are provided but are subject to changes in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) prices for 2026. These projections are subject to change and should not be considered definitive financial obligations.
What is CBAM Cost Calculator?
The CBAM calculator provides an approximation of the cost that may be required based on historical import data. This tool estimates potential 2026 CBAM costs using past import data and market-driven carbon price projections.
The default value calculations are based on the latest available country and CN-code specific EU Default Values and Benchmarks.
Where a specific CN is not availabe for a given country of origin, you should apply the "Other countries and territories" country of origin.
Calculation Methodology
For aluminium and steel products:
CBAM Cost (€/t) = ([Direct EF (tCO2/t) - (Benchmark (tCO2/t) × Phase In Rate)] * EUA Price (€/tCO2))
For fertilizers, ammonia and cement products:
CBAM Cost (€/t) = ( EUA Price (€/tCO2) × [(Direct EF (tCO2/t) + Indirect EF(tCO2/t)) - (Benchmark (tCO2/t) × Phase In Rate)] )
Total CBAM Cost (€) = Volume (tonnes) × CBAM Cost (€/t)
Actuals vs. Defaults
On final import of CBAM goods, Cost Calculations must use either both default specific embedded emissions intensities and specific embedded free allocation, or both actual specific embedded emissions intensities and specific embedded free allocation received from the installation - that have been verified by an accredited third party.
Individual Components:
The cost per tonne of product is derived from the following components:
Specific Embedded Emissions (SEE) - the emissions factor:
This represents the direct or direct and indirect specific embedded emissions associated with a particular product or Combined Nomenclature (CN) code.
Please note, for the CBAM cost calculations for fertilizers, ammonia and cement products, both direct and indirect emissions intensities are used.
The default specific embedded emissions intensities in this calculator are the 2026 +10% mark-up figures based on the available EU CBAM Default values.
Specific Embedded Free Allocation (SEFA) or "Benchmark"
SEFA represents the free allocation adjustment that is required to be made for products imported into the EU to account for the free allocation that would have been received had those goods been produced in the EU. The EU has provided default value benchmarks that should be applied for a given CN Code and country of origin, with the specific production-route dictated based on the country of origin.
The EU provides default value SEFAs in Column B per CN Code and production route. Column A benchmarks are for use by installations when calculating their own actual benchmarks. These must be calculated by the installation.
CBAM Certificate Price
The EUA (European Union Allowance) price used in these calculations represents an estimated carbon price for 2026. This value is based on multiple publicly available market reports, analyst commentaries, and future price projections. Please note, the estimated CBAM price for 2026 is speculative and subject to fluctuations in the carbon market. The actual price may vary. The assumed 2026 EUA price used for exposure calculations is €80/tCO₂.
% Phase-In rate
The CBAM Phase-In Rate is a percentage applied to reduce the impact of CBAM costs during the transition period (2026–2034). The phase in rate for 2026 is 97.5%. This means that in 2026, the benchmark is adjusted down immediately by 2.5%. This increases each year until it is 100% phased-in by 2034.
Carbon price paid overseas
The carbon price paid overseas refers to any carbon costs that an importer has already paid in the country of origin before bringing goods into the EU. Currency conversion is performed based on an average currency for the previous period.
This is not currently included in the calculator.