Aluminium carries some of the highest CBAM costs per tonne due to its electricity-intensive smelting process. Understand your exposure — and how green aluminium can dramatically reduce it.
Calculate my CBAM cost →The CBAM cost for aluminium varies enormously depending on the electricity source of the smelter:
Values in tCO₂e per tonne of primary aluminium. Actual values require verified emission declarations.
| CN Code | Product |
|---|---|
7601 | Unwrought aluminium (primary & secondary) |
7603 | Aluminium powders and flakes |
7604 | Bars, rods and profiles |
7605 | Aluminium wire |
7606 | Plates, sheets and strip (≥0.2 mm) |
7607 | Foil (≤0.2 mm) |
7608 | Tubes and pipes |
7609–7616 | Fittings, structures, reservoirs, fasteners |
Unlike most sectors, aluminium CBAM costs are driven primarily by indirect electricity emissions (typically 80–90% of total). This makes the smelter's electricity source the most important factor in your CBAM liability.
Aluminium smelted with certified renewable electricity can have total emissions below 2 tCO₂/t — versus 14+ tCO₂/t for coal-powered smelters. Sourcing with verified emission declarations is a powerful cost management tool.
Recycled aluminium uses approximately 95% less energy than primary production. If your supplier uses predominantly recycled scrap, the embedded emissions will be far below the primary aluminium default. Scrap-content documentation supports a lower CBAM factor.
Primary aluminium smelting via the Hall-Héroult process consumes ~14,000–15,000 kWh per tonne. On a coal-heavy grid, this produces 10–14 tCO₂/t of indirect emissions alone. Adding direct process emissions (PFC gases from anode effects) brings totals to 12–18 tCO₂/t for coal-powered smelters.
The EU Commission default for primary unwrought aluminium is approximately 11.5 tCO₂e/t, based on global average grid intensity. Producers using low-carbon electricity can provide verified actuals to use lower values.
Yes. Plates, sheets, strip (CN 7606), foil (CN 7607), and extruded profiles (CN 7604) are all in CBAM scope. The embedded emissions of the upstream primary aluminium must be included.
Significantly, yes. Verified low-carbon aluminium (e.g. from Icelandic hydro smelters or Norwegian producers) can have emissions below 2 tCO₂/t — reducing your CBAM certificate cost by up to 80–85% compared to the default. This creates a strong commercial incentive to source from green producers.
Model default vs. green aluminium costs and see the difference in your CBAM liability.
Open Aluminium CBAM Calculator