CBAM certificate price 2026: what a tonne costs and why the bill grows
Since 1 January 2026, CBAM is a cost, not only a report. Iron, steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity imported into the EU this year are paid for in CBAM certificates, bought from February 2027 and surrendered with the first declaration on 30 September 2027. This guide covers what a certificate costs in 2026, why the bill grows every year, and what exporters and importers should have in place.
CBAM certificate price in 2026
In 2026 the European Commission publishes one CBAM certificate price per calendar quarter, in the first calendar week after the quarter ends. The price is the weighted average of EU ETS auction clearing prices for that quarter, and it applies to CBAM goods imported in the same quarter.
- Q1 2026: €75.36 per tonne of CO₂e
- Q2 2026: €75.28 per tonne
- Q3 2026: €82.32 per tonne, up 9.4% on Q2
- Q4 2026: scheduled for publication on 4 January 2027
From 2027 the price is calculated and published weekly. Certificates are sold on a common central platform from February 2027; the 2026 obligation is settled with the first annual declaration.
What it means for a shipment
The cost of a consignment is roughly: tonnes imported × embedded emissions per tonne × the share not covered by the free allocation adjustment × the certificate price, less any carbon price already paid in the country of production. As an illustration only: 1,000 tonnes of a steel product at 2.0 tCO₂e per tonne, at €82.32, is about €164,640 before the free allocation adjustment and any deduction. How embedded emissions are worked out is covered in our step-by-step guide to calculating CBAM embedded emissions.
Why the CBAM bill grows every year
EU producers in CBAM sectors still receive free EU ETS allowances, and CBAM is reduced to match so that imports are treated the same way. That free allocation is phased out between 2026 and 2034. As it falls, the share of embedded emissions that importers pay for rises with it.
Default values cost more each year
Without verified data from the producing installation, importers use the Commission's default values, which carry a mark-up: +10% in 2026, +20% in 2027 and +30% from 2028. Fertilisers follow a gentler path of +1% a year. Every year without verified installation data costs more than the year before. Our guide to CBAM default values vs actual data explains when switching pays off.
Who pays: the 50-tonne threshold
The 2025 simplification package exempts importers bringing in less than 50 tonnes of CBAM goods a year. The European Parliament estimates that this removes about 90% of importers while keeping 99% of the CO₂ emissions from imports of iron, steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers in scope: fewer, larger importers, and the same pressure on the supply chain. The full list of changes is in our CBAM omnibus summary.
What is next: downstream products
In December 2025 the Commission proposed extending CBAM to about 180 downstream steel and aluminium products, such as screws, bolts, wire, tubes and metal furniture, together with anti-circumvention rules. The Council's position (June 2026) covers about 200 products and the European Parliament's (September 2026) more than 450. The first formal trilogue took place on 20 October 2026, with the institutions aiming for political agreement by the end of 2026 and the extension proposed to apply from 2028. Manufacturers of metal products for the EU should check now whether their CN codes are on the lists.
Five things to have in place
- Know your exposure. Which products, by CN code, go to the EU, and to which customers.
- Measure at installation level. Direct emissions per production process, electricity use, and precursors that are themselves CBAM goods.
- Get it verified. Verified actual data avoids the default-value mark-up, and it is what EU buyers will ask for.
- Share it in the format buyers need. Embedded emissions per tonne, by product, ready for the importer's declaration.
- Watch the downstream list. Fasteners, tubes and other metal products may be in scope from 2028.
How EKOTRACE helps
EKOTRACE has a CBAM module for both sides of the border. Producers record their installation and processes, get embedded emissions per tonne for each product by CN code, lock the report once verified and export one workbook with the emissions report, a sheet for EU buyers and every value in the order the CBAM Registry asks for it. EU importers record imports by CN code and country, use supplier-verified data or official default values with the year's mark-up, and see the certificates and their cost. The emissions come from the same inventory as the corporate footprint, so the numbers EU customers see match the sustainability report.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CBAM certificate price in 2026?
One price per quarter: €75.36 for Q1, €75.28 for Q2 and €82.32 for Q3 2026. The Q4 price is due on 4 January 2027. From 2027 the price is published weekly.
When do importers buy CBAM certificates for 2026 imports?
Certificates go on sale in February 2027, and the certificates for 2026 imports are surrendered with the annual declaration due on 30 September 2027.
Why does the CBAM cost rise each year?
Free allocation for EU producers is phased out from 2.5% in 2026 to 100% in 2034, so a growing share of embedded emissions is paid for, and default values carry a rising mark-up.