← Back to CBAM

CBAM Regulation Tracker

Timeline of changes and upcoming regulatory milestones

Free Allocation Phase-Out Schedule

2026
2.5%
Costs covered
2027
5%
Costs covered
2028
10%
Costs covered
2029
22.5%
Costs covered
2030
48.5%
Costs covered
2031
61%
Costs covered
2032
73.5%
Costs covered
2033
86%
Costs covered
2034
100%
Full cost
January 2026

CBAM Effective

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2621 Annex I takes effect. All 13 countries with their respective default values enter the system.

  • 4 EU-confirmed defaults published
  • 9 countries on 1.584 fallback
  • Phase-in at 2.5%
April 2026

First CBAM Price Published

European Commission publishes first official CBAM certificate auction price. Q1 2026: €75.36/tCO2 (reference price for modeling).

  • Price becomes baseline for importers
  • Updated quarterly
Mid 2026

Country-Specific Negotiations

Commission begins negotiations with Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia, North Macedonia on cement-specific defaults. Parallel discussion on Vietnam, India, UAE.

  • Turkey: 80% penalty on unverified cement
  • Balkans: Iron & steel already published
December 2027

First Major Revision Deadline

Hard legal deadline per Regulation (EU) 2023/956. Commission must publish country-specific cement defaults for at least 5-7 countries.

  • Expected: Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia updates
  • Vietnam, India review ongoing
  • Phase-in increases to 5%
January 2028

Updated Defaults Take Effect

New country-specific cement defaults published in Dec 2027 become effective. Mark-up schedule applies: +20% on defaults.

  • Phase-in increases to 10%
  • Revised cost models needed
2029-2034

Progressive Phase-In

CBAM obligation grows from 22.5% to 100%. Free allocation phase-out continues. Industry adapts to full carbon cost by 2034.

  • 2029: 22.5% coverage
  • 2030: 48.5% coverage
  • 2034: 100% coverage (end of free allocation)