The EU’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions are changing the rules of international trade. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is among the most significant parts of this shift, bringing emissions reporting and certificate obligations to certain goods imported into the European market. But what does the CBAM mean in practice for imports and exports in Greece?
For Greek businesses affected by the mechanism, understanding these requirements is an important step in preparing for the changes. Beyond understanding these requirements, however, businesses need to consider how it could influence costs, supplier relationships and competitiveness. Here is how the mechanism works, why the new verifier rules matter, and what Greek companies should focus on to remain prepared.
Decoding the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) aims to prevent businesses from avoiding carbon costs, by moving production outside the EU or replacing European products with more carbon-intensive imports. Its definitive regime began on 1 January 2026, following a transitional period focused on emissions reporting.
Under CBAM, authorised declarants report emissions embedded in covered imports and surrender corresponding certificates. Certificate prices are linked to the EU Emissions Trading System, with adjustments for free allocation and eligible carbon prices paid abroad. CBAM is therefore not a fixed tariff: its cost depends on the applicable emissions and adjustments.
Imports and exports affected by CBAM
CBAM covers specified goods in six sectors: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. Coverage depends on customs classification and origin, not simply the importer’s industry. Construction suppliers and manufacturers may therefore be affected through imported materials, even when importing represents only a small part of their operations.
An exemption applies where covered imports do not exceed 50 tonnes of cumulative net mass annually, combining cement, iron and steel, aluminium and fertilisers. Electricity and hydrogen are excluded from this exemption. Exceeding the threshold brings the whole year’s covered imports into scope, making regular monitoring essential under Regulation (EU) 2025/2083.
The case of Greek businesses
For a Greek steel buyer, the new regulations favor comparing suppliers based on total cost, including potential CBAM obligations, rather than invoice price alone. Reliable emissions data can influence purchasing decisions, reinforcing the utmost importance of credible sustainability reporting that meets market expectations.
Greek exports are not directly subject to CBAM, and intra-EU sales do not themselves trigger it. However, exporters using covered non-EU inputs may face higher overall costs. Greek producers competing against carbon-intensive imports within the EU could benefit from a narrower carbon-cost gap, although this does not guarantee stronger export performance.
Why the new verifier rules matter
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2551 sets requirements for verifier accreditation, competence and oversight, not importer authorisation. Where CBAM declarations use actual emissions rather than default values, these must be verified at the production-installation level by an appropriately accredited, independent and impartial verifier. Accreditation bodies conduct annual surveillance and may suspend or withdraw accreditation, or reduce its scope.
Thus importers should check that verifiers’ accreditation covers the relevant CBAM activities, rather than opt for general environmental auditing. Discussing verification with suppliers early to clarify how production data is collected and when verified information will be available is paramount. Such contracts should establish delivery deadlines and responsibilities for correcting errors.
Preparing a Greek business for CBAM
Greek businesses should identify covered goods, track annual quantities and confirm who will act as their authorised CBAM declarant. It is clarified that transitional reporting does not confer authorized declarant status. Therefore, it should be read alongside subsequent legislation, particularly the 50-tonne exemption. Our advice is to coordinate procurement, finance and customs teams to collect supplier emissions data, check classifications and estimate certificate costs under different purchasing scenarios.
It is also vital to maintain records linking imports, production installations and declared emissions, and connect CBAM preparation with existing emissions-management processes without treating different reporting requirements as interchangeable. Ecostart supports CBAM consultation and reporting services for businesses to achieve regulatory readiness, supplier engagement and emissions-data management.