How much can verified supplier data save on United Kingdom steel?

Submitting verified actual emissions data removes the default-value mark-up. On this example that lowers the liability to about €57,684, a saving of €5,768 (9.1%) on a single shipment, repeatable every quarter you import.

CBAM cost reference › United Kingdom › Steel

CBAM cost for United Kingdom Steel in 2026

Q: How much does CBAM cost for United Kingdom steel?

On the official EU default value, 1,000 tonnes of hot-rolled steel from United Kingdom embeds 2,090 tCO2e. For 2026 you surrender about €1,586 worth of CBAM certificates, because EU ETS free allocation still covers most of it — only 2.5% of embedded emissions is chargeable in 2026 (Art. 31). Once free allocation is fully phased out the same shipment carries €63,452 at the published certificate price of €75/t. The default value includes a 10.0% regulatory mark-up.

Q: When is CBAM payable on imports from United Kingdom?

CBAM is in its definitive regime from 2026: every tonne of covered goods imported in 2026 becomes a CBAM certificate purchased from February 2027, with the first annual declaration due 30 September 2027.

Importing steel from United Kingdom under the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism? Here is what one representative shipment costs on the official EU default value — and how much verified supplier data saves. All figures are produced by our compliance engine at the current published certificate price of €75/t.

On EU default value

€63,452

1,000 tonnes of hot-rolled steel · 2,090 tCO₂e · includes 10.0% default mark-up

With verified supplier data

€57,684

mark-up removed · verified actual emissions

Potential saving on one shipment

€5,768

9.1% lower — every quarter you import it

Watch United Kingdom steel emissions compute — live

Before you file, see exactly where a steel plant's carbon comes from, by production route. This is the live Balance Twin, computing embedded emissions in your browser — no login, nothing to install.

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How the United Kingdom steel number is built

Under EU Regulation 2023/956 and its implementing rules, embedded emissions for steel are the specific embedded emissions (SEE) of the good multiplied by the mass imported. Where you cannot yet provide verified actual data, the EU default value applies — and for iron and steel that default carries a 10.0% mark-up in 2026 (Regulation (EU) 2025/2621). This worked example uses the default SEE of 2.09 tCO₂e per tonne; verified data on this example brings the effective SEE to 1.9 tCO₂e per tonne, which is what removes the mark-up cost.

Shipment	1,000 tonnes of steel from United Kingdom
Certificate price (2026)	€75 / tCO₂e
Full exposure on default value (100% basis)	€63,452
Full exposure with verified data	€57,684
Saving on full exposure	€5,768 (9.1%)
You surrender for 2026 (CBAM factor 2.5%)	€1,586
… with verified data	€1,442

Two figures, both correct. Full exposure is what this shipment costs once EU ETS free allocation has gone (2034 onward) — the number to plan against. You surrender for 2026 is the actual 2026 obligation: free allocation still covers most of it, so only 2.5% of embedded emissions is chargeable this year (Art. 31, Reg (EU) 2023/956).

Illustrative single-product estimate. Verify with a full report before filing. CBAM liability also reflects any carbon price already paid in the country of origin (Article 9).

Default values are a regulatory fallback, not a measurement of any specific plant. The EU default SEE is a conservative reporting value that applies until you provide verified actual data — a real United Kingdom steel plant may emit more or less. That is exactly why verified supplier data usually lowers the number.

Last updated: 2026-08-08 · figures at €75/tCO₂e for CBAM year 2026, computed by our compliance engine.

Carbon price and Article 9 in United Kingdom

The UK ETS prices covered installations, so a carbon price already paid in Britain may reduce your CBAM liability under Article 9 with evidence. Where a carbon price has been paid on these emissions, Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 lets you deduct it from your CBAM liability — but only against evidence of the price actually paid, and it never turns a positive liability negative. This is separate from the default-value mark-up: verified emissions data removes the mark-up, while a verified carbon price paid in United Kingdom is what Article 9 credits.

Cut your United Kingdom steel CBAM bill

Our self-hosted CBAM platform collects verified data from your United Kingdom suppliers, computes engine-certified emissions, and generates registry-ready QReport XML — so you claim the lower number defensibly.

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Frequently asked

How much does CBAM cost for United Kingdom steel?

For 2026 you surrender about €1,586 on the default value for 1,000 tonnes — 2,090 tCO₂e embedded at €75/t, of which only 2.5% is chargeable while EU ETS free allocation is still being phased out. Once it has gone the same shipment carries €63,452. Both include the 10.0% mark-up.

How much can verified supplier data save?

On this example, roughly €5,768 (9.1%) per shipment — removing the default mark-up brings the liability to €57,684.

When is CBAM payable on imports from United Kingdom?

Goods imported in 2026 become certificates bought from February 2027; the first annual declaration is due 30 September 2027.