CBAM for Steel Importers: UK Guide

Iron and steel make up the largest group of goods covered by UK CBAM by both volume and value. The scope covers chapter 72 (iron and steel) and substantial parts of chapter 73 (articles of iron and steel), including tubes, pipes, structures, and fasteners.

If you import steel products from outside the UK, you need to check whether your specific commodity codes are in scope. Many steel importers will be caught, including those who import semi-finished products, flat-rolled products, bars, rods, and structural sections.

Steel emissions depend heavily on the production route. The two main routes are:

• Blast furnace / basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF): Uses iron ore and coking coal. High emissions, approximately 1.8–2.4 tonnes CO₂e per tonne of steel.
• Electric arc furnace (EAF): Uses scrap steel and electricity. Lower emissions, approximately 0.4–0.8 tonnes CO₂e per tonne of steel, depending on the electricity source.

You need to know which route your supplier uses, because default values will not distinguish between them. If your supplier uses EAF, the default value may be significantly higher than your actual emissions.

For each steel product you import, request:

• Production route (BF-BOF or EAF, and the percentage of scrap used)
• Embedded emissions per tonne (Scope 1 and Scope 2 separately)
• Emissions intensity by product type (hot-rolled coil, cold-rolled, galvanised, etc.)
• Any carbon price paid in the country of production
• Verification status of the emissions data

Your supplier may already have this data for other reporting requirements. Many steel producers report to CDP or have environmental product declarations (EPDs) that contain the figures you need.

Key in-scope headings include 7208–7212 (flat-rolled products), 7213–7215 (bars and rods), 7216 (angles and sections), 7301–7311 (sheet piling, tubes, pipes), and 7318 (screws, bolts and nuts). Use the CBAM commodity code checker to check your specific codes.