EU CBAM · 2026 Phase-in active

Estimate your CBAM cost in 60 seconds.

Model your EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism exposure across 2026–2034. Get year-by-year costs, supplier comparisons, and phase-in projections built to the official EU methodology.

EU Regulation 2023/956
Free · Instant · No sign-up
UAE · GCC ready
Sectors covered
Steel & iron Aluminium Cement Fertilisers Hydrogen Electricity · soon

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Enter product, origin, and shipment details to model CBAM exposure.

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Compare two scenarios side-by-side. Set Scenario A to your current supplier, route, or country, and Scenario B to a what-if alternative. The results table will show the year-by-year savings.
A
Scenario A Current / baseline supplier
1 Product category Select one of the 5 CBAM sectors
2 Origin & shipment details
t/yr
3 Emissions & credits Defaults from EU reference values
tCO₂e/t
EU benchmark: 1.328 tCO₂e/t
USD/tCO₂e
4 Market rate Shared across scenarios
EUR/tCO₂e
Fields pre-filled with EU default values — adjust as needed.
High CBAM exposure detected. Your scenario shows significant cost impact — a GCEEC advisory consultation can help identify verified-data reductions of up to 40–60%.
Total CBAM cost, 2026 – 2034
€0
Cumulative over the full phase-in period
Phase-in
2026 → 2034
Peak annual (2034)
€0
At 100% phase-in
CBAM units required
0
1 unit = 1 tCO₂e, at 2034
Cost per tonne
€0
2034 cost ÷ product tonnes
Above benchmark
0
tCO₂e/t excess vs EU benchmark
Sensitivity: What if the EU ETS price changes?
ETS price: €75/tCO₂e
€40€75 (current)€150
Projected total 2026–2034 at €75: €0 —
Annual CBAM cost (2026 → 2034)
Year Phase-in % Scenario A
How we calculated this
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Indicative figures using EU default values. Actual CBAM liability requires verified installation-level emissions data. GCEEC's advisory team provides verified calculations for compliance submissions.
Methodology

How the calculation works

The estimator follows EU Regulation 2023/956 and Implementing Regulation 2023/1773. For every tonne exported, we apply the four-factor formula below.

1Embedded emissions

Direct emissions from the production process, measured as tonnes of CO₂-equivalent per tonne of product. For steel and aluminium, only direct emissions count during the transitional period. For cement and fertiliser, indirect (electricity) emissions are also included.

2EU free allocation benchmark

EU installations receive free allowances down to a performance benchmark. Imports get the same treatment — only emissions above the benchmark are charged. Benchmarks tighten each year as free allowances are phased out.

3EU ETS allowance price

CBAM certificates are priced at the weekly average EU ETS auction price. As of 2026, this hovers around €70–85 per tCO₂e. Each certificate covers one tonne of CO₂-equivalent emissions.

4Carbon price already paid

Any carbon price (tax or ETS) already paid in the country of origin is deducted — preventing double-charging. GCC countries currently have no national carbon price, so this deduction is zero for most UAE / Saudi / Qatar exports.

The formula
Annual CBAM cost = (embedded emissions − benchmark) × EU ETS price × phase-in % × tonnage − origin carbon price paid

Phase-in schedule 2026 → 2034

Percentage of EU ETS-equivalent cost applied each year as free allowances are phased out.

Year Phase-in % Free allocation remaining
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which products does CBAM cover?
The first phase (2026 onwards) covers iron & steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen, and electricity. The Commission intends to extend CBAM to downstream products and additional sectors (polymers, chemicals) by 2030.
How do I know my actual embedded emissions?
Your installation must calculate them using the EU's monitoring methodology (Implementing Regulation 2023/1773). GCEEC's CBAM advisory team verifies these calculations for UAE and GCC exporters against EU default values.
Do I need verified data from day one?
During the transitional period (2023 Q4 – end 2025), default values are accepted. From 1 January 2026, verified actual emissions are required for the declaration. Using default values post-2026 usually results in higher CBAM liability than verified data.
What about indirect (electricity) emissions?
Indirect emissions are included for cement and fertiliser from 2026. For steel, aluminium, and hydrogen they remain excluded during the initial phase, with the Commission to review by 2030.
Who pays CBAM — exporter or importer?
The EU importer is legally liable for purchasing CBAM certificates. In practice, this cost is passed back to exporters via contract renegotiation or price adjustment, so non-EU producers bear the economic impact.
How accurate is this estimator?
It gives indicative order-of-magnitude figures using published EU defaults and the official phase-in schedule. Actual liability depends on verified installation data, final EU ETS prices at time of certificate surrender, and any origin-country carbon price credits. For a binding estimate, book a 30-minute consultation with GCEEC's advisory team.

From estimates to verified compliance

GCEEC's CBAM advisory team supports UAE & GCC exporters end-to-end — from applicability assessment and embedded-emissions verification to quarterly reporting and importer negotiations.

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Reference data & EU defaults updated 2026-04-20 · Regulation (EU) 2023/956 · Implementing (EU) 2023/1773
Methodology reviewed by GCEEC CBAM desk · Full methodology & services →