Do CBAM Default Values Increase Your CBAM Cost?
Under the EU CBAM regulation, importers may be required to use default emission values when supplier-specific data is unavailable. In most cases, these default values significantly increase reported embedded emissions.
When Are CBAM Default Values Used?
Default values apply when installation-level emissions data cannot be obtained from non-EU suppliers. During the transitional period, estimates are tolerated, but from 2026 onward, missing data leads to mandatory default values.
The Cost Impact of Using Default Values
CBAM default values are intentionally conservative. For steel and aluminium, they often exceed real-world emissions by 20–60%, directly increasing the number of CBAM certificates required.
When Is It Worth Requesting Supplier Data?
If your imports are high-volume or carbon-intensive, obtaining actual emissions data can materially reduce CBAM costs. Low-volume importers may accept default values temporarily.
Check Your CBAM Exposure in One Minute
Not sure whether default values apply to your imports?