← All Countries

Saudi Arabia — CBAM Guide

Fertilisers, Aluminium and Hydrogen are Saudi Arabia's main CBAM-covered sectors for EU exports.

FertilisersAluminiumHydrogen
First declaration deadline
30 Sep 2027
De minimis threshold
50 t / year
Carbon pricing
None — no Art. 9 deduction
EUA price Q1 2026
€75.36 / tCO₂e
CBAM phase-in 2026
2.5% of full liability
CBAM phase-in 2030
48.5% of full liability

Trade Profile

Saudi Arabia is a major exporter of ammonia and nitrogen fertilisers (SABIC, Ma'aden). Primary aluminium ingots from ALBA and Ma'aden Aluminium are exported to EU markets. Saudi Arabia is developing large-scale green hydrogen production (NEOM ENOWA project) targeting EU market access, with near-zero embedded emissions that would eliminate CBAM exposure for that production stream.

Article 9 — Carbon Price Deduction

No deduction

Carbon pricing in Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia does not operate a domestic carbon pricing mechanism applicable to CBAM-covered goods.

No qualifying carbon price applies to Saudi Arabian production of CBAM-covered goods. Full CBAM certificate costs apply to embedded emissions above the sector SEFA benchmark. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 renewable energy targets may progressively reduce embedded emissions for electricity-intensive sectors.

Compliance Insight for Saudi Arabia Exporters

Saudi primary aluminium smelting uses predominantly gas-fired power. The CBAM default for Saudi unwrought aluminium is 1.70 tCO₂e/t (primary route). Hydrogen exports carry a very high default of 13.45 tCO₂e/t — green hydrogen production via electrolysis with renewable energy would reduce this to near zero, eliminating CBAM exposure entirely.

Verify Your Actual Emissions →

Four Steps to Compliance

1
Register in the CBAM Operators Portal
Upload installation identification data: legal name, UN/LOCODE, GPS coordinates, contact person. This enables your EU buyer's authorised declarant to access your verified data.
2
Establish a monitoring plan
Document all energy inputs, production outputs, and emission calculation methodology per the governing EU implementing regulation. This is the foundation for any verified data submission.
3
Engage an accredited verifier
Appoint a third-party verifier accredited under EN ISO/IEC 14065 by an EA-recognised National Accreditation Body. A physical site visit is required before verified data can be submitted.
4
Share verified data with your EU buyer
Provide verified specific embedded emissions to your EU buyer's authorised CBAM declarant before the September 2027 declaration deadline. Verified actual data replaces default values — typically at significantly lower cost.

Key Deadlines

2026
First full reporting year begins
CBAM Regulation fully in force
30 Sep 2027
First CBAM declaration due
Covers goods imported in 2026
2028+
Annual declarations continue
Phase-in increases each year to 2034
2034
Full CBAM liability
100% of certificates required

Calculate your exposure

Estimate your 2026–2034 CBAM certificate costs using your sector, volume, and production route.

Free Sector Calculator →

Country Assessment Report

Need a verified, installation-specific CBAM exposure report for Saudi Arabia? Our Country Assessment covers default vs actual emission gaps, benchmark comparison, and a 2026–2034 cost trajectory.

Request Assessment →

Default values sourced from IR 2025/2621 (EU Commission). Net costs are illustrative — actual liability depends on verified embedded emissions, SEFA benchmark deduction, and the applicable CBAM phase-in factor. Not legal or compliance advice.