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Reg. (EU) 2023/956Free CBAM check

China is the EU’s largest supplier of steel and aluminium — and Chinese production has among the highest emission defaults under the CBAM

China is the EU’s largest supplier of iron and steel articles (€12.5B) and aluminium (€3.9B). Chinese steel production is predominantly BF-BOF with coal-fired power, resulting in a default of 4.481 tCO₂e/t. Chinese aluminium, smelted with coal-generated electricity, defaults at 4.928 tCO₂e/t — the highest among major producers. China has a national ETS, but it covers only the electricity sector, not steelmaking, aluminium smelting or cement production directly. There is no Art. 9 deduction for these sectors. CBAMCheck quantifies the exposure per product and origin. Start with a free check.

Free CBAM check: does it apply to you?Generate your CBAM dossier — €299

€299 · One-time · 12 professional deliverables · Your data never leaves your browser

Built on Reg. (EU) 2023/956 · Modified by Reg. (EU) 2025/2083 · 13,566 default values (Reg. 2025/2621) · 100% browser-side — your data never leaves your device

The numbers that matter for your CBAM compliance

4.481
tCO₂e/t — China iron and steel default
4.928
tCO₂e/t — China aluminium default — highest among major producers
No Art. 9
China ETS covers electricity only, not steel/aluminium/cement

Your CBAM compliance timeline

1
Identify your Chinese imports by CN code
Steel articles (Ch. 72–73), aluminium (Ch. 76), cement (Ch. 25), fertilisers (Ch. 28–31).
2
Check default values for each product
Steel 4.481, aluminium 4.928, cement 1.353, fertilisers 2.19 tCO₂e/t.
3
Understand that China’s ETS does not create an Art. 9 deduction for most goods
The national ETS covers electricity generation. Steel, aluminium and cement production are outside its scope.
4
Estimate your CBAM certificate cost
Use the calculator below or generate a full dossier for per-tonne projections.
5
Consider actual emissions from your supplier
Art. 7(2)(a) allows verified actual emissions. Some Chinese installations may be below the country default.
6
Submit annual CBAM declaration by 30 September
First declaration: 30 September 2027 for calendar year 2026. Art. 6.

Three mistakes that inflate your CBAM cost or create compliance risk

MISTAKE 1 — ETS DEDUCTION ERROR

Claiming Art. 9 deduction because China has an ETS

China’s ETS covers electricity generation only. Steel, aluminium and cement production are not covered. No Art. 9 deduction applies for these sectors.

MISTAKE 2 — SINGLE-PRODUCT VIEW

Calculating CBAM for one Chinese product when you import multiple categories

China supplies steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers. CBAMCheck covers all in one dossier.

MISTAKE 3 — DEFAULT ACCEPTANCE

Using country defaults when actual emissions could be lower

Some Chinese installations with modern technology may have lower emissions than the country default. Art. 7(2)(a) allows actual data.

What you receive: 12 deliverables in one ZIP file

CBAMCheck generates a complete CBAM compliance dossier — not a single PDF. 12 structured documents delivered as a ZIP file, each citing the specific article of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 it addresses.

1

Scope Assessment

Determines whether your imports fall under CBAM and which obligations apply. Art. 2 + Art. 2a of Reg. (EU) 2023/956.

2

Embedded Emissions Calculation

Calculates embedded emissions per tonne using default values from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 or your actual data. Art. 7 + Annex IV.

3

CBAM Certificate Estimation

Estimates the number of certificates required and the projected cost, adjusted for free allocation (Art. 31).

4

Draft CBAM Declaration

Pre-structured declaration following Art. 6(2) requirements: quantities, emissions, certificates, carbon price.

5

Carbon Price Documentation

Documents any carbon price paid in the country of origin for Art. 9 deduction. Pre-formatted for the CBAM Registry.

6

Annex V Record Template

Record-keeping template compliant with Annex V requirements. Ready for verifier review.

7

Verification Preparation

Structured preparation for Art. 8 verification by an accredited verifier. Annex VI checklist included.

8

Supplier Letter Template

Model letter in English requesting emissions data and installation information from your third-country supplier.

9

Compliance Calendar (.ics)

Importable calendar with quarterly certificate obligations (Art. 22(2)), annual declaration deadline (30 September), and key milestones.

10

Executive Summary

One-page overview of your CBAM exposure: cost estimate, timeline, risk areas. Ready for management or board reporting.

11

Interactive HTML Dashboard

Standalone HTML dashboard with 2026–2032 projections reflecting free allocation phase-out (Art. 31). Works offline, no subscription.

12

Compliance Calendar Document

Visual calendar of all CBAM deadlines, reporting windows and certificate purchase schedules.

Generated from your input data, in your browser. No data leaves your device.

See what you get

Download a sample CBAMCheck dossier. This is a real output generated with generic data — the same 12 deliverables you will receive with your company’s actual figures.

Download sample dossier (ZIP)

Generic data. Your dossier will contain your actual import figures, CN codes and emission calculations.

Estimate your CBAM exposure

Select your sector and country of origin. CBAMCheck searches through 13,566 official records from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 and shows the result with the 2026 mark-up included.

Quick CBAM Calculator

Average European Commission default values per sector and country of origin.

Default emissions (tCO₂e/t)
Mark-up 2026 (10%)
Total emissions with mark-up
CBAM rate 2026 (2.5%)
Estimated certificates

This is a quick estimate. Your complete dossier includes projections through 2032, an editable interactive dashboard, and 10 PDF documents.

Generate your complete dossier — €299 →

Average values per sector from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621. The complete dossier uses the exact CN code of your goods, not the sector average. Estimated EU ETS price: €75/tCO₂e.

What CBAM compliance costs with each alternative

FeatureFree toolCBAMCheckSaaS Enterprise
PriceFree€299 (one-time)€1,990–€4,800/year
ModelGeneric template12 professional deliverablesAnnual subscription
Default valuesNot included13,566 (Reg. 2025/2621)Partial
Interactive dashboardNoHTML, 7-year projectionInside platform
Supplier letterNoEnglish template includedVariable
Art. 8 verification prepNoIncludedVariable
PrivacyVariable100% browser-sideData on server
Multi-company supportNoVia Professional PackYes

Choose your licence

1 DOSSIER
€299
/ dossier

  • 10 professional PDF documents
  • Interactive HTML Dashboard (projection 2026–2032)
  • 13,566 official values integrated
  • Template letter in English for supplier
  • Importable .ics calendar
  • 10 regenerations · 30 days
  • 1 licence = 1 importing company
Get your individual licence →
PROFESSIONAL PACK
€1,999
70 generations · 1 key

  • 70 generations with a single key
  • 70 complete dossiers (12 deliverables each)
  • Switch product between generations
  • Ideal for customs representatives
  • For consultants billing CBAM compliance
70 interactive HTML Dashboards × product (projection 2026–2032). Real-time tables and charts with variable calculations. No technical training required. Fully intuitive.
🔒 Data stays on your computer. No information shared with third parties.
Request Professional Pack →

How your licence works

1
1 licence = 1 importing company. You pay €299 for the dossier you generate now. The licence is linked to your company name + EORI.
2
Up to 10 regenerations of the ZIP to correct data, adjust goods or update technical information.
3
30-day editing window from first activation. Within that period you can regenerate the dossier as many times as needed (up to 10).
4
The downloaded dossier is yours forever. It does not expire and is not tied to any subscription. The 10 PDFs, HTML dashboard and .ics calendar remain functional offline.

The EU CBAM portal asks for data. CBAMCheck calculates it.

THE EU CBAM PORTAL

Asks you to declare data

The EU CBAM Registry (Art. 14) requires you to submit total embedded emissions, number of certificates and carbon price documentation. It does not calculate these for you. You must arrive with the numbers ready.

CBAMCHECK

Calculates the data you need to declare

CBAMCheck takes your import data (tonnes, CN codes, country of origin) and generates the embedded emissions calculation, certificate estimation, carbon price documentation and all supporting records. You download the dossier and use it to complete the CBAM Registry submission.

Enforcement: what happens when CBAM certificates are missing

Art. 26 of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 sets the penalties.

⚠️
Authorised declarant: penalty identical to EU ETS excess emissions penalty
EU ETS rate per missing certificate

Art. 26(1): an authorised CBAM declarant who fails to surrender the required certificates by 30 September faces a penalty identical to the excess emissions penalty under Art. 16(3) of Directive 2003/87/EC, increased pursuant to Art. 16(4). The penalty applies per certificate not surrendered. Payment does not release the obligation to surrender outstanding certificates (Art. 26(3)).

⚠️
Unauthorised importer: penalty 3–5 times the standard rate
3–5×

Art. 26(2): a person who introduces goods without authorisation faces a penalty of 3 to 5 times the standard penalty, depending on duration, gravity, scope, intent and cooperation. This also applies to importers exceeding the de minimis threshold (50 tonnes, Art. 2a) without authorisation (Art. 26(2a)).

Importing multiple Chinese products across steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers?

Professional Pack: 70 generations. One dossier per product category or per supplier.

Request Professional Pack
One-business-day response · No sales call required

What CBAMCheck guarantees and what it does not

CBAMCheck generates a document structured according to Art. 6 and Art. 7 + Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 from the information you enter. The truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of that information is your responsibility as importer or authorised CBAM declarant.

We guarantee that the document structure follows Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and that the legal references cited are correct. We do not guarantee that a specific document will be accepted by a national competent authority in a specific case.

CBAMCheck is not legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or specialised regulatory consultancy.

Frequently asked questions

Does China’s ETS qualify for Art. 9 deduction on steel or aluminium?
No. China’s national ETS covers electricity generation only. Steel, aluminium and cement production are outside its scope. There is no carbon price effectively paid on embedded emissions of these products.
Why is China’s aluminium default the highest?
Chinese aluminium smelting relies heavily on coal-fired electricity. Since aluminium smelting is extremely electricity-intensive, the carbon intensity of the grid translates directly into high embedded emissions.
Can actual emissions from a Chinese mill be lower than defaults?
Yes. Under Art. 7(2)(a), verified actual emissions from the producing installation may be used. Modern Chinese installations with cleaner energy sources may have lower emissions than the country average.
Is this a subscription?
No. One-time payment. The licence includes 30 days of editing and 10 regenerations. The downloaded dossier is yours to keep.
Can I get a refund?
Upon activating the licence you give express consent for immediate generation of digital content pursuant to Art. 16(m) of Directive (EU) 2011/83, waiving the 14-day withdrawal right. Refunds are accepted only for a reproducible technical fault.
What if the regulation changes?
If the regulation changes during your licence validity, you can regenerate the document with the updated version of the generator at no extra cost.
⚠️ Important notice: CBAMCheck is a self-assessment documentation tool, not legal advice and not a third-party audit. The document is generated from your input data. You are responsible for the accuracy of the data you provide. CBAMCheck does not replace a qualified professional assessment.

China-EU trade under CBAM. Quantify your exposure now.

Steel 4.481, aluminium 4.928 tCO₂e/t. No Art. 9 deduction for most goods. 12 deliverables. €299.

€299 one-time
12 professional deliverables · Browser-side · No subscription · Reg. (EU) 2023/956
Start with a free CBAM check