Estimate your exposure under the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. CBAM covers six groups of goods — cement, iron & steel, aluminium, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity — and its definitive regime applies to imports into the EU from 1 January 2026.
By Amit Jain · with Vinod Kumar Jain · All Frontier Global · free, no login
Methodology
This tool runs entirely in your browser and shows its working:
Indicative CBAM cost ≈ chargeable emissions × max(0, EU ETS price − carbon price paid at origin).
The per-sector intensity defaults are illustrative ballparks only — replace them with your installation's verified figures or the EU's official default values (which carry a mark-up when actual data isn't reported).
Honest caveats — verify before you rely on this
The CBAM definitive regime started 1 January 2026 (the 2023–2025 transitional phase was reporting-only). The first surrender of CBAM certificates covers 2026 imports and happens in 2027 — timings and mechanics should be verified on the European Commission CBAM page.
The charge phases in as free EU ETS allocation phases out (to full effect by 2034). With the adjustment left at 0 this tool shows an upper-bound full exposure; early-year liability is a fraction of that.
A de minimis threshold (around 50 tonnes of covered goods per importer per year, electricity excluded) can take small importers out of scope — check the current rules.
Certificate prices track EU ETS auctions; enter today's EUA price from a live market source, don't reuse an old number.
Deduction for a carbon price paid at origin requires evidence and follows EU implementing rules; scope is defined by CN code, and fertiliser/steel/aluminium precursors have special treatment. This is an indicative planning tool, not a compliance calculation.