CBAM for aluminium

For aluminium, CBAM covers the whole chain from unwrought aluminium to structures and containers. Anyone importing profiles, sheets or foil quickly gets close to the 50-tonne threshold.

At a glance

Aluminium is one of the six CBAM sectors under Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2023/956.
Counts towards the 50-tonne threshold: net mass of all CBAM goods per importer and calendar year.
Mark-up on default values: 10% (2026), 20% (2027), 30% from 2028.
Only direct emissions count.

Which aluminium goods are covered by CBAM?

What matters is the CN code in the customs declaration. The list below is Annex I as amended by Regulation (EU) 2025/2083 – the same list CBAMfix uses to check every import. You can check individual codes for free under “Check CN code”.

CN code	Goods	Excluded
7601	Unwrought aluminium	–
7603	Aluminium powders and flakes	–
7604	Aluminium bars, rods and profiles	–
7605	Aluminium wire	–
7606	Aluminium plates, sheets and strip, over 0.2 mm	–
7607	Aluminium foil, up to 0.2 mm	–
7608	Aluminium tubes and pipes	–
7609 00 00	Aluminium tube or pipe fittings	–
7610	Aluminium structures and parts of structures	–
7611 00 00	Aluminium reservoirs, tanks over 300 l	–
7612	Aluminium casks, drums, cans up to 300 l	–
7613 00 00	Aluminium containers for compressed or liquefied gas	–
7614	Stranded wire, cables of aluminium	–
7616	Other articles of aluminium	–

Check an individual CN code for free →

Exclusions

Waste and scrap of aluminium (CN 7602) and table, kitchen and sanitary ware of aluminium (CN 7615) are not covered by CBAM. All other headings from 7601 to 7616 listed in Annex I are covered – including “other articles of aluminium” (7616).

What does CBAM cost for these goods?

One CBAM certificate must be surrendered per tonne of embedded emissions. The free allocation adjustment that EU producers still receive is deducted – it shrinks every year (CBAM factor).

For imports in 2026 the quarterly average of EU ETS prices in the quarter of import applies: Q1: €75.36 · Q2: €75.28 · Q3: €82.32 · Q4: not yet published.

CBAM factor (share of free allocation that remains): 2026: 97.5% · 2027: 95% · 2028: 90% · 2029: 77.5% · 2030: 51.5% · 2031: 39% · 2032: 26.5% · 2033: 14% · 2034: 0%.

Without verified emission data from the producer, default values per country of origin apply, with a mark-up. Your own actual values must be confirmed by an accredited verifier – that is why it pays to ask suppliers for their data early.

Deadlines

The CBAM declaration for imports in 2026 must be submitted by 30 September 2027; the certificates must also be surrendered by then. Certificates are sold from 1 February 2027 on the common central platform. From 2027, at the end of each quarter at least 50% of the embedded emissions imported since the start of the year must be covered by certificates.

Frequently asked questions

Are aluminium profiles covered by CBAM?

Yes. Aluminium bars, rods and profiles (CN 7604) are listed in Annex I and count towards the 50-tonne threshold.

Is aluminium scrap affected?

No. Waste and scrap of aluminium (CN 7602) are excluded.

Which emissions count for aluminium?

Only the direct emissions of production; the electricity used for electrolysis does not count in the definitive period.

Stay on top of the 50-tonne threshold

CBAMfix reads your import documents, checks every CN code against Annex I, keeps count and warns you in time before the authorisation deadline.

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