The European Union’s official CBAM certificate price increased to €82.32 per tonne of CO₂ equivalent for the third quarter, raising the carbon-cost exposure of importers covered by the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
Published on 5 October, the rate was €7.04, or 9.35%, higher than the second-quarter price of €75.28. The first-quarter rate stood at €75.36.
Quarterly CBAM price reflects EU carbon auction costs
The quarterly price applies to certificates corresponding to the embedded emissions in covered goods imported during the relevant quarter. The rate is calculated using the weighted average of EU emissions allowance auction prices.
For importers whose certificate requirement remains unchanged, the higher rate creates a direct increase in the carbon-cost component. A requirement for 10,000 certificates, for example, would result in an additional €70,400 in cost between the second and third quarters, based solely on the change in the certificate price.
The calculation does not indicate how many certificates an importer ultimately needs. That quantity depends on the applicable emissions calculation and relevant adjustments.
Supplier emissions data becomes more important for procurement
The increase in the CBAM price also affects how importers assess competing suppliers. A lower purchase price for a product can be offset by a higher level of embedded emissions, increasing the importance of assessing the delivered product price alongside a defensible carbon calculation.
Supplier comparisons therefore require both commercial pricing and reliable emissions data. Where emissions information is incomplete, the higher CBAM certificate price increases the financial significance of unresolved data gaps.
2026 imports remain exposed despite later certificate purchases
CBAM certificates will be purchased through the common central platform from February 2027. The later start of certificate purchases does not remove the carbon-cost exposure associated with imports made during 2026.
The €82.32/tCO₂e Q3 rate provides importers with a firmer basis for estimating their carbon bill, while increasing the commercial cost of leaving supplier emissions data unresolved.
