CBAM Default Emission Values vs Actual Values: The Financial Case for Getting Verified
The CBAM default emission value is the EU's estimate of your product's carbon intensity — set at the 90th percentile of EU production. If your actual emissions are lower, every tonne you export costs more than it should. This page quantifies the financial case for third-party verification.
CBAM Default Values by Sector
| Sector | Product | Default value (tCO2/t) | CBAM certificate cost at EUR 65.42/tCO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron & Steel | Steel (all products) | 2.18 | EUR 142.62/t |
| Aluminium | Primary aluminium | 12.40 | EUR 811.21/t |
| Cement | Portland cement (clinker) | 0.766 | EUR 50.11/t |
| Fertilisers | Ammonia | 2.326 | EUR 152.19/t |
| Fertilisers | Urea | 0.467 | EUR 30.55/t |
| Fertilisers | Nitric acid | 6.844 | EUR 447.83/t |
| Hydrogen | Hydrogen | 5.14 | EUR 336.26/t |
The Financial Case: Default vs Actual for Steel
| Producer type | Actual (tCO2/t) | Certificate cost at actual | Saving vs default | Annual saving on 100,000t |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish EAF (mixed grid) | 0.60 | EUR 39.25/t | EUR 103.37/t | EUR 10.3M |
| South African EAF (coal grid) | 0.85 | EUR 55.61/t | EUR 87.01/t | EUR 8.7M |
| Indian BF-BOF | 1.80 | EUR 117.76/t | EUR 24.86/t | EUR 2.5M |
| Brazilian charcoal BF | 0.30 | EUR 19.63/t | EUR 122.99/t | EUR 12.3M |
Use the CBAM Savings Calculator to calculate your specific saving based on your sector, production volume, and actual emission value.
Why Default Values Are Set So High
CBAM default values are set at the 90th percentile of EU production emissions — meaning 90% of EU producers emit less than the default. The EU Commission set defaults at this level to ensure that non-EU producers who do not document actual values pay at least as much as the least efficient EU producers. For efficient non-EU producers, this creates a significant penalty — and a significant incentive to document actual values.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CBAM default value for steel?
The CBAM default for steel is 2.18 tCO2 per tonne, set at the 90th percentile of EU production. At EUR 65.42/tCO2, the CBAM certificate cost at default is EUR 142.62 per tonne.
What is the CBAM default value for aluminium?
The CBAM default for aluminium is 12.40 tCO2 per tonne — the highest of any CBAM sector. At EUR 65.42/tCO2, the certificate cost at default is EUR 811.21 per tonne.
Can I always use actual values instead of defaults?
Yes, if your actual values are verified by an ISO 14065 accredited verifier. If your actual emissions are higher than the default, you may choose to use the default value instead.
How are CBAM default values calculated?
CBAM default values are set at the 90th percentile of EU production emissions for each product category, per CBAM Implementing Regulation 2023/1570 Annex III.
Do default values change over time?
Yes. The EU Commission reviews and may update default values periodically. Manufacturers should monitor the CBAM Implementing Regulation for updates.
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