CBAM certificate price 2026: every quarter, and what it means for your bill
The CBAM certificate price for 2026 Q3 is €82.32. Here is how it is set, every 2026 quarter so far, and the cost of one real shipment at each.
- One price per quarter in 2026, from EU ETS auction prices.
- Latest: €82.32 for 2026 Q3.
- Certificates go on sale 1 February 2027.
- Verified data and free allocation move the bill more than the price does.
How the price is set
CBAM certificates are priced by the European Commission from the auction price of EU ETS allowances. For 2026, the Commission publishes one price per calendar quarter: the average of the EU ETS auction clearing prices in that quarter (Article 21 of Regulation (EU) 2023/956, as amended in 2025). Certificates for 2026 imports go on sale on 1 February 2027 and are surrendered with the annual declaration by 30 September 2027.
Published 2026 prices
| Quarter | Price per certificate | Published | 1,000 t steel from Türkiye |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q1 | €75.36 | 2026-04-07 | €100,609 |
| 2026 Q2 | €75.28 | 2026-07-06 | €100,503 |
| 2026 Q3 | €82.32 | 2026-10-05 | €109,901 |
What this means for your budget
The price moves with the EU carbon market, so the same shipment costs more or less depending on the quarter. Two things you control matter more than the price: the emissions figure (verified supplier data instead of marked-up defaults) and the free allocation that still applies in 2026 (97.5% of the benchmark). Plan with a range, not a single price.
See what your own goods cost at today's price in the free cost check, or browse the official default values by CN code.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CBAM certificate price for 2026?
The Commission publishes a quarterly price for 2026: 2026 Q1 €75.36; 2026 Q2 €75.28; 2026 Q3 €82.32. Each is the average EU ETS auction clearing price for the quarter.
When can CBAM certificates be bought?
Certificates for 2026 imports go on sale on 1 February 2027 and are surrendered by 30 September 2027.
What is one CBAM certificate?
One certificate covers one tonne of CO2e of embedded emissions, after the free allocation adjustment.