Is the marine industry ready for CBAM in 2026? – it’s a mixed picture, says British Marine
According to Lesley Robinson, CEO, British Marine, preparation for the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) remains a mixed picture in the UK marine industry.
The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is an EU regulation designed to prevent carbon leakage, and ensure fair competition between EU industries and non-EU producers who have less stringent climate regulations. It enters full compliance mode in 2026 and means – at its most simplest – that marine companies that export to the EU need to be on top of the amount of carbon emitted during the production of their goods.
“Some companies have made great strides in understanding the requirements,” she says. But for others, particularly smaller businesses with complex or global supply chains, “CBAM is still a considerable challenge.”
Following a UK government industry consultation that ran in 2024 on the UK’s own CBAM, it is now confirmed that the UK will introduce similar measures in January 2027, details Robinson. “British Marine consulted with its members during this period and responded to the government, accordingly, asking for more alignment to the EU’s CBAM including the removal of additional materials such as glass, which includes fibre glass. We are glad to see the government listened to industry aligning more closely with the EU’s CBAM allowing consistency in approach and application.”
CBAM – what to do to ensure compliance
Robinson is an advocate of avoiding scrambling around at the last minute when CBAM compliance comes into force in 2026.
“The key to making the most of 2025 is to use this time proactively: review your product codes, talk to your suppliers, and take advantage of the support on offer to members from the technical team and on the Decarbonisation Hub [British Marine’s website]. By acting now, companies can reduce the risk of last-minute scrambles as the full regulation comes into force in 2026.”
Robinson says that companies who are making strides are those: “utilising British Marine’s guidance documents, training videos and webinars, alongside regular updates from British Marine’s technical team to begin getting their supply chain data in order,” she says (links to these resources which are for British Marine members only can be found below.)
What is CBAM and how does it affect marine companies?
The EU introduced CBAM to help achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and, according to multiple internet sources including this UK government website (which offers advice and specific guidance), CBAM represents a significant shift in global trade policy, directly linking carbon emissions to trade practices and aiming to push global industries toward cleaner production.
The EU will impose a ‘carbon price’ on imported goods, based on the amount of carbon emitted during their production. This idea is to ensure that foreign companies pay a similar carbon cost as EU producers.
Thus, companies need to know how much carbon is emitted during processing – from start to finish.
What materials are affected by CBAM?
CBAM applies to specific carbon-intensive goods, including (but not limited to) cement, iron and steel, aluminium, electricity and hydrogen.
The EU wants to prevent industries from relocating to countries with weaker climate policies to avoid high carbon costs. CBAM means that imported goods are subject to the same carbon pricing as products made within the EU and effectively levels the playing field. Plus, the idea is that countries outside the EU might be encouraged to adopt stricter climate policies, as industries will face higher costs when exporting to the EU.
Importers must purchase CBAM certificates
Importers need CBAM certificates corresponding to the amount of carbon emitted in the production of the goods being imported. These certificates are priced according to the EU carbon price (from the EU Emissions Trading System or ETS).
Full implementation of the payment of CBAM certificates will be required by 2026, when full compliance with CBAM certificates will be required
This could lead to higher costs for certain goods, particularly in energy-intensive industries.
Exporters to face higher costs in EU, unless carbon emissions reduced
Manufacturers in non-EU countries will face higher costs when exporting carbon-intensive products to the EU, unless they reduce their carbon emissions to align with EU standards.
British Marine offers help to members
During 2024, British Marine said it witnessed a surge in enquiries seeking guidance on meeting new border requirements and how UK businesses can provide the relevant data to their EU based customers to fulfil CBAM requirements.
The trade association developed comprehensive guidance, available on its website. That features information needed to identify relevant EU guidelines and requirements during the transitional phase for CBAM goods. British Marine’s advice on CBAM is available online.
Responses to CBAM
In May 2024, Daniamant Denmark’s CEO Berit Hansen told MIN that she believed legislation in general is good [in the market]. “But the marine industry is very conservative. It takes long time to make changes, both to existing regulations or new regulations,” she said before lambasting CBAM.
“Some of the new EU legislations like CBAM [the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism] or registration of working hours per employee, is time consuming with no benefit to the company. We do not earn more money but we get to have more administration staff.”
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