EU ANNOUNCES FIRST CARBON PRICE!

It’s official: the era of “free emissions” for EU importers is coming to an end. On April 7, 2026, the European Commission set the first price for CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) certificates.

???? Figure of the day: €75.36 per tonne of CO₂-equivalent.
This is the amount (on average) that importers will have to pay for embedded emissions in the first quarter of 2026. What does this mean for business?

1️⃣ Who is affected now?
If you supply steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity or hydrogen to the EU, the value of your products on the European market now directly depends on their “carbon footprint”.

2️⃣ The price will not be static.
Until the end of 2026, prices will be updated quarterly (next dates: July 6 and October 5). And from 2027, the system will become “dynamic” — the price will change weekly, following the EU ETS market.
3️⃣ Important deadlines:
• February 1, 2027 — start of purchasing certificates to cover emissions for 2026.
• September 30, 2027 — final deadline for submitting the first declaration.
⚠️ The main challenge:
Price is only part of the equation. The most difficult stage will be verification. From 2027, your emissions reports must be confirmed by accredited European verifiers. If the data is not confirmed, the EU will apply “default values”, which are usually significantly higher than the real figures.
???? What should exporters do?
• Conduct a supply chain audit.
• Implement emissions monitoring systems in production now.
• Review contracts with European partners to reflect new costs.
CBAM is no longer a “vision,” it is a financial reality. Those who invest in decarbonization faster than their competitors will win.