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The new DDP assessments for imported flat steel in Europe include CBAM-related costs. These new assessments have been introduced ahead of the start of the definitive period of the EU’s CBAM on January 1, 2026, to reflect the fact that import offers currently being concluded relate to cargoes arriving in 2026 and will therefore be subject to CBAM costs.
The new assessments complement the existing CFR assessments for imported flat steel in Europe, which exclude EU’s CBAM costs.
This launch of new DDP assessments for imported flat steel in Europe aims to provide greater transparency for market participants navigating the evolving trade environment under CBAM.
The inclusion of CBAM costs enables the assessments to better reflect how the spot market is expected to trade from 2026 onward, based on supply and demand fundamentals. This means the CBAM certificate costs may not always fully be reflected or passed on from seller to buyer in the spot DDP prices.
These prices do not, therefore, include any calculated CBAM certificate cost component, because this could vary sharply in data submissions depending on several factors: the brand and origin; when the material is customs cleared and the CBAM cost at that time; and how much of the carbon cost is paid in the origin market.
Given that minimum lead times for imported flat steel are set at eight weeks under Fastmarkets’ specifications, the market is already effectively operating within the CBAM window. Offers received today for new cargoes predominantly relate to deliveries scheduled for 2026, meaning CBAM-related costs are now becoming an integral part of price formation.
The new DDP specifications will enable Fastmarkets’ assessments to more accurately reflect delivered pricing into the EU when CBAM enters its definitive phase, while ensuring the existing CFR assessments continue to represent cargoes sold on a cost-and-freight basis only, excluding CBAM-related costs.
The European market continues to rely significantly on flat steel imports, and market participants have said they believe CBAM costs should be included within the new DDP price assessments.
Fastmarkets’ decision follows engagement with market participants who have highlighted the need for clarity and comparability between non-CBAM and CBAM-inclusive assessments.
The new DDP assessments will reflect the same underlying market fundamentals as the existing CFR prices, while incorporating import-related costs including customs clearance, duties and CBAM certificates applicable within the EU.
The specifications for the new DDP assessment are as follows:
MB-STE-0945 Steel hot-rolled coil import, ddp Southern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Width 1,200-1,300mm, thickness 3-4mm. Standard extras for dimensions excludedTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Southern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonnePublication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
MB-STE-0946 Steel hot-rolled coil import, ddp Northern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Width 1,200-1,300mm, thickness 3-4mm. Standard extras for dimensions excludedTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Northern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonnePublication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
MB-STE-0947 Steel cold-rolled coil import, ddp Northern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Width 1,200-1,300mm, thickness 1mm. Standard extras for dimensions excludedTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Northern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonnePublication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
MB-STE-0948 Steel cold-rolled coil import, ddp Southern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Width 1,200-1,300mm, thickness 1mm. Standard extras for dimensions excludedTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Southern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonnePublication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
MB-STE-0949 Steel hot-dipped galvanized coil import, ddp Northern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Standard 1-2mm thickness. Includes Z120 coatingTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Northern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonne Publication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
MB-STE-0950 Steel hot-dipped galvanized coil import, ddp Southern Europe, €/tonneQuality: Standard 1-2mm thickness. Includes Z120 coatingTerms: delivered, duty paid, inclusive of CBAM costsQuantity: minimum 500 tonnesLocation: ddp Southern EuropeTiming: 8-12 weeksUnit: EUR/tonnePublication: Weekly. Wednesday, 2-3pm London time
These prices are a part of the Fastmarkets steel package.
Fastmarkets will continue to monitor the implementation of CBAM and its impact on trade flows and pricing structures and will make further adjustments to its methodology if material changes arise in market practice or regulation.
To provide feedback on these prices or if you would like to provide price information by becoming a data submitter to these prices, please contact pricing@fastmarkets.com and steel@fastmarkets.com. Please add the subject heading “re: European import flat steel prices.”
Please indicate if comments are confidential. Fastmarkets will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.
To see all Fastmarkets pricing methodology and specification documents, go to the Fastmarkets methodology page.