CBAM data for aluminium wire and cable exporters

Wire and conductor makers sit in a grey area for many buyers. Here's what's in scope, what isn't, and what to send.

Is this product covered by CBAM?

Aluminium wire under CN 7605 and stranded wire, cables and plaited bands not electrically insulated under CN 7614 are within CBAM's aluminium sector. Insulated electric conductors are classified under a different heading and aren't in the current aluminium list, so check the code your buyer actually uses.

Always confirm the exact code your buyer declares your goods under. Scope is set by CN code, not by how the product is described.

What counts toward your figure

Aluminium goods are on the CBAM list where only direct emissions count in the definitive period. Electricity used in your plant isn't part of the CBAM figure, even if the template asks you to report it.

Direct emissions at a typical rod or wire plant come from:

• Fuel for melting in continuous casting and rolling lines
• Annealing furnaces for wire
• Fuel-fired heating in any alloying step

Your precursors: usually the biggest number

Rod mills melt ingot, so unwrought aluminium is the precursor. Wire drawers buying rod have that rod (also under 7605) as their precursor, with the rod maker's embedded emissions. Record every purchase with supplier and country.

What your buyer will ask for

1. Embedded emissions per tonne for each wire or conductor code
2. Whether you cast rod or buy it
3. Precursor suppliers and countries of origin
4. Confirmation of which products are insulated and which are not

Documents to gather

• Fuel invoices for casting and annealing
• Production by product
• Ingot or rod purchase invoices
• Scrap and yield records

Common mistakes

• Declaring insulated cable data under the wrong scope
• Including electricity for drawing and stranding
• Missing the rod maker's embedded emissions

For the full method, see how to fill in the CBAM communication template and default values vs actual emissions.

Frequently asked questions