EU CBAM aluminium benchmark lowered for primary and secondary imports

Aluminium

The EU CBAM aluminium benchmark will fall for primary and secondary imports under a leaked draft. The benchmark for primary aluminium drops to 1.423t CO2 per tonne from 1.464t. The secondary benchmark falls to 0.091t CO2 per tonne from 0.139t for scrap-rich metal.

What the new benchmarks mean across the aluminium value chain

The new benchmark directly changes how much emissions value importers can deduct from CBAM liability. The benchmark sets the “free allocation” amount that reduces an importer’s payable charge once CBAM starts in 2026. As a result, a lower benchmark can raise the remaining CBAM exposure when other factors stay constant.

The EU also adds fixed benchmark uplifts for downstream aluminium products. Most intermediate products, like bars, wire, plate, and sheet, add 0.056t CO2 per tonne to the base benchmark. End-of-chain products, like containers and foil, add 0.166t CO2 per tonne to the base benchmark.

Default values raise the stakes for data quality and compliance

The EU will apply CBAM default values when importers lack adequate origin-specific emissions data. These defaults estimate embedded emissions and can drive higher payable charges. Meanwhile, the compliance risk increases if authorities suspect circumvention.

Consultancy Redshaw Advisors warned about losing access to actual emissions reporting. Lead CBAM advisor Dan Maleski said circumvention findings could remove “actual data” rights for an entire country. Therefore, importers may face forced reliance on default values even when producers track real emissions.

The draft lists notable default values for key exporting countries and product types. Unwrought aluminium from China carries 3t Scope 1 CO2 per tonne, with intermediate products at 4.88t and foil at 5.56t. Aluminium from India carries 1.87t, with intermediates at 3.44t and foil at 4.13t. United Arab Emirates also sits at 1.87t for unwrought, but lower values apply downstream at 2.22t and 2.66t. In addition, the EU plans a 10% annual mark-up to defaults for three years to cover data gaps.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The lower EU CBAM aluminium benchmark increases the premium on verified, audit-ready emissions data. Therefore, producers that document low-carbon power and process efficiency can defend pricing. Meanwhile, high default values will punish weak traceability and accelerate supplier reshuffling.