CBAM Certificates: From Compliance Requirement to Cost Driver

Apr 15, 2026Sustainability / Audit

First Certificate Price Published, Marking the Start of CBAM’s Definitive Phase

With the publication of the first CBAM certificate price for Q1 2026, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism has entered its definitive phase. What was previously a forward-looking reporting obligation has now become a concrete cost factor for EU importers. For the first time, embedded emissions can be translated directly into euros – with immediate implications for procurement strategies, supplier engagement, and financial planning.

The published price makes one thing clear: CBAM is no longer a theoretical compliance risk. From 2026 onwards, CBAM costs are real, quantifiable, and retroactively applicable to all eligible imports.

The Key Facts at a Glance

Q1 2026 Certificate Price: €75.36 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent, based on the weighted average of EU ETS auction clearing prices. Quarterly prices apply for 2026; weekly pricing begins in 2027.
Certificate Purchases: Start in February 2027, covering all imports made from 1 January 2026 retroactively. Annual declarations are due by 30 September 2027.
Default Value Surcharges: Where importers rely on default emission values instead of actual verified data, a punitive markup applies – 10% in 2026, 20% in 2027, and 30% from 2028 onwards for aluminium, cement, and iron & steel. For fertilisers, the markup is capped at 1% across all years. This escalating surcharge structure significantly increases certificate obligations and reinforces the business case for securing verified actual emissions data.
Quarterly Holding Requirement: From 2027, authorised declarants must hold certificates covering at least 50% of embedded emissions at the end of each quarter.
Non-Compliance Penalties: €100 per excess tonne of CO₂. Reports indicate that goods are already being held at EU customs due to missing CBAM documentation, causing production delays and additional financial losses for importers.
Verification: Emissions data must be independently verified by an accredited verifier. Product-specific benchmarks reduce CBAM exposure but do not eliminate it; default values often sit far above benchmarks and materially inflate certificate obligations.

Strategic Implications for Businesses

The delay of the certificate purchase obligation to 2027 provides companies with temporary administrative relief but also a narrow window to prepare their data, systems, and supplier relationships. Those that use this period to integrate carbon data into procurement, reporting, and product management will turn compliance into a strategic asset.

Reliable emissions data can support cost forecasts, supplier evaluations, and long-term decarbonization planning – all of which strengthen competitiveness in a low-carbon economy. Conversely, relying on default values with escalating surcharges will erode margins year on year.

Building Readiness with DEKRA

To support companies in navigating the definitive phase, DEKRA offers dedicated CBAM Fundamentals Training designed to build competence, confidence, and readiness for compliance requirements.

DEKRA also supports businesses in calculating and verifying Product Carbon Footprints (PCFs) across the product life cycle and provides CBAM verification services to ensure emissions data is accurate, audit-ready, and aligned with regulatory requirements.

Get in touch with our sustainability services team to assess your CBAM readiness.