According to Emil Ceglarski, purchasing director at Polish steel distributor Konstal, European steel prices are starting to rise again as the EU's Carbon Boundary Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) moves from a transitional phase to full implementation.
Ceglarsky said that the mechanism is already increasing the cost of imported steel and pushing up domestic prices. CBAM requires importers to pay for carbon emissions embedded in steel produced outside the EU, effectively equalizing import costs with the carbon costs faced by European producers.
He noted that although the CBAM transition period from October 2023 to the end of 2025 had no direct impact on prices, the situation has now changed. As the system begins to work, the added carbon-related charges begin to be reflected in market quotations. After a long period of price declines between May 2022 and December 2025, steel prices have now recovered, partly due to the protective effect of CBAM on the EU market.
The import strategy is expected to change and increase
Constal has already adjusted its procurement strategy. According to Ceglarski, the company has significantly reduced imports from non-EU countries due to the uncertainty surrounding the CBAM rules and the latest regulatory details published at the end of 2025. He stressed that higher carbon-related import costs directly affect higher prices for materials in the domestic market.
Impact
