Author: Carline Klijn - van Best Date: 07/09/2026
CBAM and fasteners: what buyers need to know
Roeland De Sonnaville, Business Development Director at Fabory Group, explains why the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) can easily be overlooked in fastener procurement and why buyers should understand its potential impact on their supply chains.
CBAM entered its definitive regime on 1 January 2026. For manufacturers and procurement teams sourcing products that fall within its scope, this means embedded carbon emissions are becoming an important part of product classification, supplier data, compliance and ultimately the cost of importing goods into the European Union.
Fasteners can be particularly easy to overlook. They may not always be mentioned explicitly when CBAM is discussed, but certain iron and steel fasteners fall within the mechanism because of their customs classification.
What does CBAM mean for fastener buyers?
CBAM is an EU mechanism designed to put a carbon price on certain carbon-intensive goods imported into the European Union. Its objective is to reduce the risk of carbon leakage by bringing the carbon cost of relevant imports closer to that faced by producers operating within the EU Emissions Trading System.
For businesses importing covered goods, CBAM can therefore affect more than regulatory reporting. Embedded emissions data, product classification, supplier information and carbon pricing can all influence the administrative requirements and potential landed cost associated with imported products.
The rules also include an annual mass-based threshold. For iron and steel, aluminium, cement and fertilisers, importers that do not exceed the applicable cumulative threshold are generally exempt from CBAM obligations for that calendar year. Businesses above the threshold need to understand the requirements that apply to their imports.
Why are fasteners affected by CBAM?
Fasteners are not always highlighted individually in general descriptions of CBAM. However, many iron and steel fasteners are covered because CBAM scope is determined by customs classification codes rather than simply by the everyday product name.
This is particularly relevant to an industry with an international supply chain. Fasteners may pass through manufacturers, distributors and trading organisations before reaching the final customer, making visibility of origin, classification and embedded emissions increasingly important.
Buyers should therefore avoid assuming that CBAM is solely an issue for steel producers or their immediate supplier. The important questions are which products are in scope, who acts as the EU importer and whether the relevant annual import threshold is exceeded.
Why emissions data matters
One of the biggest challenges created by CBAM is the availability and quality of emissions information throughout the supply chain.
For in-scope imports, businesses may need information about the emissions embedded in the manufacture of the product and its precursor materials. Where actual emissions values are used, businesses must supply and verify the necessary data in accordance with applicable CBAM requirements.
Where permitted actual emissions information is unavailable, default values may need to be used. This makes cooperation between importers, distributors, manufacturers and upstream suppliers increasingly important.
For fastener buyers, supplier readiness therefore matters. Reliable product classification, traceability, and access to relevant supply chain information can become important considerations alongside traditional factors such as quality, availability, and price.
CBAM is a supply chain issue, not just a compliance issue
It can be tempting to treat CBAM as an administrative responsibility that sits solely with the importer. In reality, its impact can extend much further through the supply chain.
Importers need information from manufacturers and other upstream partners. Suppliers need to understand what data customers may require. Procurement teams need greater visibility of where products originate and how regulatory changes could affect future sourcing decisions and costs.
This means the strongest response to CBAM is not simply to react when a cost appears. Businesses should work with suppliers that understand the regulatory environment, can provide greater transparency across the supply chain and are actively engaging with manufacturers on emissions data and carbon reduction.
What should fastener buyers prepare for?
The first CBAM declaration covering imports made during 2026 is due in 2027, but the information required to support that declaration needs to be addressed much earlier.
Businesses importing covered goods should understand their product classifications, monitor whether their imports exceed the applicable threshold, establish who is responsible for CBAM compliance and determine what emissions information is available from suppliers.
For businesses using large volumes of fasteners, it is also important to understand how CBAM could influence future purchasing decisions, supplier discussions and total acquisition costs rather than assessing fasteners solely on unit price.
What does CBAM mean for UK manufacturers?
EU CBAM applies to goods imported into the European Union. It does not mean that every fastener purchased by a UK manufacturer automatically falls under EU CBAM.
However, UK manufacturers exporting products into the EU, supplying EU operations or managing supply chains that import covered fasteners and steel-based components into EU member states should understand where CBAM responsibilities arise.
For these businesses, greater transparency around product origin, customs classification and embedded emissions can help support more informed procurement and supply chain decisions.
Plan ahead for CBAM
CBAM is changing the information businesses need from international supply chains. For fasteners, where sourcing networks can be complex and highly international, preparation and supplier transparency are becoming increasingly important.
Fabory works closely with its international supplier network to understand regulatory developments, improve supply chain transparency and support customers as requirements evolve.
If you would like to discuss what CBAM could mean for your fastener supply chain, contact the Fabory team.
For the latest regulatory requirements and implementation guidance, visit the European Commission CBAM guidance.