CBAM Mid-Year 2026 Update: Price & Expansion
Key Takeaways
- This guide covers guide reporting requirements based on IR (EU) 2025/2621 and EU Regulation 2023/956
- All emission factors and CN codes referenced are verified against the latest EU implementing regulations
- Practical steps and common mistakes are drawn from hands-on implementation experience with the CbamTrack platform
From the team behind CbamTrack
We built this guide based on hands-on experience implementing CBAM compliance for SME importers. The calculations and workflows described here power our own platform — this is not theory, it's what we ship.
Meta Description: CBAM's first half of 2026: Q2 certificate price €75.28, certificate sale rules, verifier accreditation progress, and the expansion regulation heading to trilogue. What importers need to know now.
Target Keywords: CBAM 2026 update, CBAM certificate price Q2 2026, CBAM expansion regulation, CBAM verifier accreditation, CBAM certificate sale
The First Half of 2026: A Lot Happened
CBAM's definitive phase started on 1 January 2026, and the first six months have already produced a steady stream of operational and legislative developments. For EU importers and their suppliers, this update pulls together the key items: the Q2 certificate price, the rules for buying and reselling certificates, where verifier accreditation stands, and the state of play on the CBAM expansion regulation.
"On 6 July 2026, the European Commission published the CBAM Certificate price for Q2 2026 which is now EUR 75,28." Van Bael & Bellis, Client Alert, 20 July 2026
1. CBAM Certificate Prices in 2026
Certificate prices in 2026 are set quarterly, based on the average EU ETS auction price.
| Quarter | Price (€/tCO₂) | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2026 | €75.36 | 7 April 2026 |
| Q2 2026 | €75.28 | 6 July 2026 |
| Q3 2026 | To be published | 5 October 2026 |
| Q4 2026 | To be published | 4 January 2027 |
From February 2027, prices move to a weekly calculation basis.
Why this matters: every tonne of embedded CO₂ in your imports is priced near €75 today, but in 2026 the CBAM factor is just 2.5%, so the free-allocation deduction still covers 97.5% of the benchmark. Planning purchases now (or setting supplier data collection targets) protects you against both price volatility and the steep phase-in that follows.
2. Selling and Repurchasing CBAM Certificates
On 9 July 2026, the Commission opened a public consultation (open until 6 August 2026) on a draft delegated regulation setting out how CBAM certificates can be sold and repurchased:
- The CBAM registry will be the main point of interaction for declarants
- A fee of €0.05 per certificate sold will fund the service
- Repurchase of excess certificates will be possible from 31 October 2027
Practical note for declarants: if you over-purchase certificates in 2027 for 2026 imports, repurchase is limited: certificates bought in 2027 for 2026 emissions may only be repurchased in 2027 (Regulation 2023/956, Article 24). Watch the consultation outcome carefully if you manage quarterly balances.
3. Verifier Accreditation: The Bottleneck Everyone Knew Was Coming
The Commission published an accreditation state of play on 8 July 2026:
| Status | Member States |
|---|---|
| Agreed to provide CBAM accreditation | All except Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, Malta |
| Ready to accept accreditation applications | Only about half of the above |
| Agreed to accredit third-country verifiers | France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden |
| Already accepting third-country applications | Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden |
"The Netherlands has an agreement with Turkey's accreditation agency, TÜRKAK, and Sweden has an agreement with the National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine (NAAU)." Van Bael & Bellis, Client Alert, 20 July 2026
What this means for importers: if you plan to use actual emissions data (rather than default values) in your 2026 declaration, your suppliers' installations must be verified by an accredited verifier. With verification due between January and September 2027, the accreditation bottleneck is the single biggest operational risk to using real data this cycle. If your suppliers aren't already lined up with a verifier, start now.
4. Corrected Default Values Are Coming
The Commission has been working on correcting some current default values, with amended values expected soon and a full revision expected in 2027. High default values (especially for countries like China and Indonesia) have been a major complaint from industry. See our separate post on CBAM default values for the detail.
5. The CBAM Expansion Regulation: Where It Stands
The draft regulation extending CBAM to downstream goods and adding anti-circumvention measures is moving through the legislative process:
| Stage | Date | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Commission proposal (COM(2025)989) | 17 December 2025 | ~180 downstream steel & aluminium-intensive products |
| Council general approach | 12 June 2026 | Wider product list, annual review from Jan 2028, 1-year exemptions |
| ENVI committee report | 6 July 2026 | Even wider scope (medical needles, syringes); removes international carbon credits; redirects revenue |
| Plenary vote | 14–17 September 2026 | Sets Parliament's negotiating mandate |
| Trilogue | After September plenary | Target: agreement before end of 2026 |
Key points of difference between the institutions:
| Issue | Commission | Council | ENVI Committee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downstream goods | ~180 products | Similar + annual review | Broadest scope (incl. medical instruments) |
| Exemptions | Delegated acts for severe harm | Tighter, max 1 calendar year | Removes new exemption; redirects revenue instead |
| Anti-circumvention | "Abusive practices" powers | "Harmful resource shuffling" implementing act | Cross-country default value application; narrowed supply-chain adjustment definition |
| International carbon credits (Art. 6 Paris) | Regulated deduction allowed | Removed | Removed (premature) |
What to do now: if you import steel or aluminium downstream products (fasteners, wire, structural components, vehicle parts), check whether your CN codes appear on any of the three institutional lists. The final scope is likely to be significantly wider than the original proposal. The entry into application is targeted for 1 January 2028, but the trilogue outcome will be known by early 2027.
Key Takeaways
- Q2 2026 certificate price is €75.28/tCO₂, near the Q1 level of €75.36
- Certificate sale/repurchase rules are in consultation until 6 August 2026; fee of €0.05/certificate
- Verifier accreditation is the bottleneck: only 4 Member States accept third-country verifier applications today
- Corrected default values are imminent; full revision in 2027
- The expansion regulation reaches trilogue after September 2026, and downstream scope will grow
Related: CBAM Certificate Cost Formula | How CBAM Affects Your Exports | CBAM Reporting Deadlines 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the price become weekly?
From February 2027. In 2026, prices are published quarterly (Q1: April, Q2: July, Q3: October, Q4: January).
Can I resell excess CBAM certificates?
Yes. Repurchase requests must be submitted by 31 October of each year, and repurchase is at the original purchase price (with limitations for 2027 certificates bought for 2026 emissions).
When will the expanded CBAM scope apply?
Targeted for 1 January 2028 for downstream goods, subject to the trilogue outcome expected by end of 2026.
Regulation Status
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-01 |
| Based on | Regulation (EU) 2023/956, COM(2025)989, draft delegated regulation on certificate sale/repurchase |
| Applies to | CBAM permanent phase (2026+) |
References
- European Commission — Price of CBAM certificates
- European Commission — First CBAM certificate price (7 April 2026)
- European Parliament — MEPs strengthen CBAM and close loopholes (6 July 2026)
- Van Bael & Bellis — EU CBAM: Overview of recent developments (20 July 2026)
- EU Regulation 2023/956
Last updated: August 2026 | Sources: Van Bael & Bellis client alert (20.07.2026), European Commission DG TAXUD, European Parliament, Mayer Brown, ESG Today
Important Financial Disclaimer
The financial figures, cost estimates, and compliance scenarios discussed in this article are for informational purposes only. Actual CBAM liability depends on your specific import profile, verified emission data, and regulatory interpretations. Consult a qualified CBAM advisor or customs professional before making compliance decisions.
This article was researched and written with AI assistance. All factual claims, emission factors, and regulatory references have been verified against official EU sources (EUR-Lex, European Commission CBAM page). Last verified: July 2026.
R. Emrah Gökkaya
I built CbamTrack because I saw SME exporters struggling with spreadsheets and confusing regulations. Every article here reflects what I've learned implementing IR 2025/2621-compliant calculations, integrating live EU ETS pricing, and building the emission factor database that powers our platform.
View full author bio →Ready to simplify your CBAM compliance?
Subscribe today and generate your first CBAM report in minutes.