A source at the European plant said that it was "impossible to work with the revised default values," and estimated that the additional cost of CBAM for some manufacturers could reach 140-600 euros per metric ton if importers did not provide confirmed emission data.
"They practically prohibit imports with such valuables," he said, adding that verification would quickly become the only effective way for buyers next year.
Market participants said that most buyers have already completed their purchases for 2025 and do not want to open new positions until the end of the year. It is reported that stocks for January 2026 have been sold out at factories across Europe, and the list of orders for February is currently being discussed.
A source at a service center located in Northern Europe said that although official domestic market offers remain at 620-640 euros per tonne at plants in the Ruhr, achievable levels are usually around 610-620 euros per tonne, with plants showing limited flexibility.
"Some manufacturers are willing to make deals below their targets, but the availability is still acceptable," the same source said.
In Southern Europe, sales prices were quoted at around 600 euros per ton from a factory in Italy for delivery in February, and official offers were announced at 620-630 euros per ton. Several Italian factories agreed to small discounts at the end of the year to guarantee the volume of supplies, although buyers were still hesitant to commit.
The import market remains constrained by uncertainty about quotas and risks associated with CBAM. It was reported that prices for used goods of Turkish origin in Antwerp were 600-620 euros per ton, including the cost of CBAM, while large-tonnage goods from Southeast Asia cost 470-480 euros per ton in Italy, excluding CBAM. However, participants stated that the risks associated with using default values make it difficult to conclude such transactions.
Platts estimated domestic oil demand at 615 euros per tonne at plants in the Ruhr in Northern Europe and 600 euros per tonne at plants in Italy in Southern Europe, which has not changed day by day.
Platts estimated the prices of imported materials in Northern Europe at 500 euros per ton CIF in Antwerp and estimated prices in Southern Europe at 495 euros per ton CIF in Southern Europe, which have not changed from day to day.
Author: Devbrat Sakha, Charles Thompson
