Understand CBAM Certificates
and How to Hedge Their Cost
From 2026, EU importers must buy CBAM certificates to cover the embedded emissions of their imports. This page gives you the basics, and shows how, together with our trading partner Aither, we help you lock in today's carbon price through the Aither CBC™ (CBAM Benchmark Certificate).
* Country defaults from EU CBAM Regulation (Q1 2026). Live CBC™ trading prices are quoted daily by Aither.
We provide the introduction and exposure analysis. Aither operates the trading desk and settlement.
Why CBAM Cost Planning
matters now
From 2026, the transitional reporting period ends and importers move into the definitive phase. They must surrender CBAM certificates priced against the EU ETS, with the first surrender due by 30 September 2027 for 2026 emissions. Free allowances under the EU ETS phase out fully by 2034, which means full carbon cost exposure is approaching, not theoretical.
EU ETS prices move daily based on auctions, energy markets and policy. Companies that wait until the surrender deadline to think about cost will pay whatever the market dictates that quarter. The plain logic: the same volatility that hits EU producers now hits importers too.
We help you understand your exposure and connect you with Aither, our specialised hedging partner, so you can lock in cost today through the Aither CBC™. Aither runs the live-priced instrument and the settlement, we make sure it fits your import volumes, product mix and budget plan.
Daily-priced reference for CBAM compliance, in partnership with Aither
The Aither CBC™ Live Price
The Aither CBC™ (CBAM Benchmark Certificate) is a financial instrument designed to mirror the EU ETS reference price used to value CBAM certificates. 1 CBC™ = 1 CBAM certificate. Pricing is updated daily, based on EU ETS auction data, so you always see what the market says today.
wis.dom|bridge™ provides the educational layer and exposure assessment. Aither, with 15+ years in environmental commodities and 6,000+ clients globally, operates the live trading and settlement. You get a transparent reference price, no opaque OTC quotes, and a clear path from understanding to compliance.
Buy, hold, comply: how CBC™ hedging works
Lock in your CBAM cost today
BUY: Purchase Aither CBC™ at today's live price. You secure your cost base when the market is favourable, instead of waiting for the next surrender quarter and paying whatever it costs then.
HOLD: Bank your CBC™ until you need them. You decide the timing based on your import schedule and your CBAM declaration cycle, with no pressure to convert immediately.
COMPLY: When your CBAM declaration is due, your CBC™ holdings convert 1:1 into official CBAM certificates and settle your liability with the EU registry. The settlement aligns with mandatory reporting and surrender cycles.
wis.dom|bridge™ helps you understand which CN codes are in scope, what your embedded emissions look like and how much exposure you actually have. Aither runs the trade and the settlement. Two roles, one outcome: you walk into 2026 with cost certainty.
Why companies hedge CBAM cost through Aither CBC™
Four practical reasons to act before the next surrender quarter
Budget certainty
Lock in CBAM cost at today's market price
You know what compliance will cost in 2026 and beyond, so finance can plan accurately. No more guessing what the next quarterly EU ETS reference price will look like.
Get ahead of price rises
Free allowances phase out by 2034
EU ETS caps tighten and CBAM scope expands. Forward curves point upward. Buying CBC™ today protects against the price increases that the regulation itself is engineered to cause.
Flexibility and liquidity
Hold, resell or convert when ready
CBC™ can be held, resold at market price, or converted 1:1 into official CBAM certificates at surrender. You stay in control of timing and never get locked in.
Zero basis risk
1 CBC™ = 1 CBAM certificate
The CBC™ is anchored directly to the EU ETS benchmark. There is no gap between what you buy and what you owe at surrender, which is the whole point of using it as a hedge.
Proactively manage the cost of your
CBAM certificates
Carbon prices are notoriously hard to predict, but the regulation itself is not. Free allowances phase down to zero by 2034 and the surrender obligation is fixed. By buying Aither CBC™ now, you lock in cost at today's market price instead of waiting for the EU to issue and price the official certificates.
We help you size your exposure based on your real CN-code mix and import volumes. Aither executes and settles. You get one consolidated answer to the question your CFO is already asking: 'what will CBAM cost us next year?'
Ready to look at your CBAM exposure?
Start with a short conversation. We'll review your CN codes, estimate your embedded emissions and exposure, and introduce the Aither CBC™ hedging route if it fits. No commitment, no jargon.