Yes. CBAM covers most of CN chapter 72 and listed headings of chapter 73, so finished articles such as screws, bolts, nuts, tubes, pipes and steel structures carry the levy alongside raw steel. Coverage follows the CN code declared at customs; importers bringing in no more than 50 tonnes of covered goods a year fall outside under the de-minimis threshold.
Coverage reaches finished steel articles
Iron and steel is one of the six product groups covered by CBAM, and its scope extends well beyond raw metal. Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 is the definitive list, and it spans most of CN chapter 72 together with listed headings of chapter 73. That reach pulls finished and fabricated goods into the mechanism: screws, bolts, nuts, tubes, pipes and steel structures all carry embedded emissions obligations when imported into the EU.
| Goods declared at customs | Where they sit in the CN | CBAM status |
|---|---|---|
| Pig iron, crude and semi-finished steel, flat-rolled products, bars and rods | Most of chapter 72 | Covered |
| Tubes and pipes | Listed headings of chapter 73 | Covered |
| Screws, bolts and nuts | Listed headings of chapter 73 | Covered |
| Fabricated steel structures | Listed headings of chapter 73 | Covered |
Reference: Annex I, Regulation (EU) 2023/956.
The CN code decides, not the product name
Scope follows the CN code declared at customs, not the commercial description of the goods. A consignment invoiced as construction hardware or fastener kits is assessed on its CN classification, so exporters of fasteners and structures should map every product line against Annex I rather than assume the mechanism stops at mill products. EU imports of steel articles reached about EUR 33.6 billion in 2024 (Eurostat), on top of about EUR 39.5 billion of iron and steel. Importers bringing in no more than 50 tonnes of covered goods per year fall outside CBAM under the de-minimis threshold.
What fastener and structure exporters should do
Preparation starts with classification and emissions data, since the definitive regime has been live since 1 January 2026. For iron and steel, an Annex II good, only direct embedded emissions are priced; indirect, electricity related emissions are monitored and reported but add nothing to the certificate obligation. Three actions follow:
- Map every exported CN code, including fastener and structural lines under chapter 73, against Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2023/956.
- Prepare actual installation data for verification by an accredited verifier; CBAM reporting has required actual rather than estimated data since 1 August 2024.
- Read the CBAM guide and the sibling answer on which iron and steel products are covered, then engage the CBAM consulting service to quantify exposure line by line.
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2023/956 · European Commission CBAM