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CBAM stainless steel from South Korea: K-ETS deduction, precursors and compliance dossier

South Korea is one of the world's largest producers of stainless steel, supplying EU distributors and manufacturers in Germany, Italy and Spain. Korean stainless steel has two distinctive CBAM features: (1) the K-ETS carbon price allows an Art. 9 deduction that reduces certificate cost, and (2) stainless steel is a complex good with specific precursors (ferrochrome, ferronickel) that must be included in the emissions calculation. CBAMCheck generates 12 structured documents covering both the K-ETS deduction and the precursor cascade.

Generate your CBAM dossier — €299Free check: does CBAM affect you?

€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 Korean stainless steel

2.986
tCO₂e/t — South Korea iron and steel default (Reg. 2025/2621)
K-ETS
Korean Emissions Trading Scheme → Art. 9 deduction available, reducing CBAM cost
Precursors
Stainless steel uses ferrochrome and ferronickel — complex good with cascading emissions

Your CBAM compliance timeline for Korean stainless steel

1
Register as authorised CBAM declarant
Art. 5. Required before importing stainless steel from South Korea.
2
Map stainless steel CN codes and precursors
Stainless steel: CN 7218–7222. Complex good with ferrochrome (CN 7202 — note: ferroalloys not in Annex I as products, but their emissions cascade as precursors to stainless steel).
3
Document the K-ETS carbon price for Art. 9 deduction
South Korea has the K-ETS. Art. 9(1) allows deduction of carbon prices effectively paid. Documentation must be certified by an independent person (Art. 9(2)).
4
Calculate embedded emissions including precursors
Annex IV point 3: SEEg = (AttrEmg + EEInpMat) / ALg. The ferrochrome and ferronickel precursor emissions cascade into the stainless steel total.
5
Purchase CBAM certificates quarterly
Art. 22(2): ≥50% of cumulative embedded emissions (net of Art. 9 deduction) at end of each quarter.
6
Submit annual CBAM declaration by 30 September
Art. 6: include quantities, emissions, certificates, K-ETS Art. 9 deduction documentation.

Three mistakes importers of Korean stainless steel should avoid

MISTAKE 1 — TREATING STAINLESS LIKE CARBON STEEL

Ignoring the ferrochrome and ferronickel precursors

Stainless steel is a complex good with specific precursors. The emissions profile is different from carbon steel. Using carbon steel defaults for stainless creates inaccurate declarations.

MISTAKE 2 — NOT CLAIMING THE K-ETS DEDUCTION

Paying full CBAM cost without documenting the Korean carbon price

South Korea has the K-ETS. Not claiming the Art. 9 deduction means paying for certificates that could be partially offset. The K-ETS price directly reduces your CBAM cost.

MISTAKE 3 — POOR ART. 9 DOCUMENTATION

Claiming the deduction without independent certification

Art. 9(2) requires documentation certified by an independent person. A claim without proper certification creates verification risk.

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 emissions 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 projectionPlatform-locked
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 (2026–2032 projection)
  • 13,566 official default values integrated
  • English supplier letter template
  • 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 brokers
  • 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 your declaration in the CBAM Registry.

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 rate
EU ETS rate per 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 per 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): anyone introducing goods without authorisation faces a penalty of 3 to 5 times the standard penalty, depending on duration, gravity, scope, intent and cooperation. Also applies to importers exceeding the de minimis threshold (50 tonnes, Art. 2a) without authorisation (Art. 26(2a)).

Importing stainless steel from Korea, Japan, India and other origins?

The Professional Pack covers 70 dossier generations. Compare CBAM costs across origins — with and without Art. 9 deductions.

Request Professional Pack →
70 generations · 1 key · K-ETS deduction calculated per origin

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

Is this a subscription?
No. One-time payment. The licence includes 30 days of editing and 10 regenerations. The downloaded dossier is yours forever.
Can I request a refund?
By activating the licence you give express consent for the immediate generation of digital content under Art. 16(m) of Directive (EU) 2011/83, waiving the 14-day withdrawal right. Refunds are accepted only for reproducible technical faults.
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.
Can I deduct the K-ETS carbon price under Art. 9?
Yes. South Korea operates the K-ETS, which covers steel production. Art. 9(1) allows deduction of carbon prices effectively paid. The deduction must be documented with independent certification (Art. 9(2)). Free allocation under K-ETS must be netted.
Is stainless steel a complex good under CBAM?
Yes. Stainless steel uses ferrochrome and ferronickel as input materials. Under Annex IV point 3, the embedded emissions of these precursors must be included in the total embedded emissions of the stainless steel product.
Why is the Korean default lower than China or India?
South Korea has a cleaner energy mix and more efficient steel production than China (4.481) or India (5.374). The default of 2.986 tCO₂e/t reflects this. Combined with the K-ETS deduction, Korean stainless steel has a significant CBAM cost advantage.
⚠️ 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.

Korean stainless steel has a K-ETS deduction advantage. Document it.

12 deliverables. K-ETS Art. 9 documentation. Precursor cascade mapped. Default 2.986 tCO₂e/t. €299.

€299 one-time
12 professional deliverables · Browser-side · No subscription · Reg. (EU) 2023/956
Generate your CBAM dossier — €299