EU Carbon Import Charges Push Exporters to Compliance
Exporters of cement, steel, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen and electricity to the EU must now prepare emissions data for CBAM.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in International Trade
Live Poll
Do you expect prices for everyday imported goods to rise over the next few years?
Isometric has launched Ready for CBAM, a service that helps exporters prepare emissions data for EU verification under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which entered into force at the beginning of 2026. The company also raised $50 million in a Series A round.
Why it matters
CBAM functions as a carbon tax on imported goods, requiring EU importers to buy certificates covering embedded emissions in covered products. It was adopted to prevent carbon leakage, where production of emissions-intensive goods shifts to countries with weaker climate rules, and exporters of covered goods now face a compliance burden on their emissions reporting.
Default CBAM values for most covered goods include a markup of 10% in 2026, rising to 30% by 2028. The new service covers all six CBAM sectors (cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen and electricity), and Isometric's Series A round raised $50 million.
The players
Isometric
A carbon accounting company that combines AI-powered data checks with expert review to help industrial exporters meet emissions reporting requirements.
European Union
The governing body that adopted CBAM and imposes its carbon-based import charges on covered goods entering the EU market.
The details
Exporters must provide emissions monitoring plans and emissions reports for each plant producing covered goods. Isometric's carbon accounting experts prepare these documents, while its AI-powered platform checks uploaded data and flags issues, with experts reviewing the full submission against EU rules. The first CBAM declarations covering 2026 imports are due September 30, 2027.
Timeline
2023: The EU adopts CBAM.
Beginning of 2026: CBAM enters into force.
2026: Default markup for covered goods begins at 10%.
2028: Default markup reaches 30% for covered goods.
September 30, 2027: Deadline for first CBAM declarations covering 2026 imports.
Market Landscape
CBAM, which entered into force in 2026, is the EU's carbon tax on imported goods and was designed to address carbon leakage. Isometric's service and funding show a market forming around compliance support for exporters of the six covered sectors.
Exporters of cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen or electricity to the EU should factor CBAM-related emissions reporting and possible default-value markups into their cost planning. Operators should consult qualified accountants or trade counsel to assess how these charges apply to their specific products.
The takeaway
Exporters should map which of their products fall under the six CBAM sectors and begin assembling plant-level emissions data well before the September 30, 2027 declaration deadline. Monitoring the 2026-2028 markup schedule is worthwhile for any pricing decisions on covered goods.
What happens next
The first CBAM declarations covering 2026 imports are due September 30, 2027, and the default markup rises from 10% in 2026 to 30% by 2028.
Further reading
For background on the trade rules behind this compliance push, see our coverage of International Trade.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ESG Today.
Live Poll
Do you expect prices for everyday imported goods to rise over the next few years?
