Which greenhouse gases does the UK CBAM count for aluminium?
Carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons. HMRC lists both gases against every aluminium heading in scope, from unwrought aluminium (7601) to other articles (7616). Iron and steel count carbon dioxide only. PFCs are converted at 6,630 tCO2e per tonne of CF4 and 11,100 per tonne of C2F6.
Gases by sector
- Aluminium, headings 7601, 7603 to 7614 and 7616: carbon dioxide and perfluorocarbons.
- Iron and steel, including agglomerated iron ore: carbon dioxide.
- Cement: carbon dioxide.
- Fertilisers: carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide; ammonia carbon dioxide only.
- Hydrogen: carbon dioxide.
Conversion factors
- Tetrafluoromethane (CF4): 6,630 tCO2e per tonne.
- Hexafluoroethane (C2F6): 11,100 tCO2e per tonne.
- Nitrous oxide, for fertilisers: 265.
Extruders inherit PFCs through billet
An extruder or foil roller releases no PFCs of its own, but the billet or ingot it buys carries the smelter's PFCs as a precursor. When you ask your metal supplier for a verified figure, check that it states CO2e including PFCs. A CO2-only number understates the precursor.
PFCs per tonne of aluminium (example figure)
- Suppose a smelter emits 0.05 kg CF4 and 0.005 kg C2F6 per tonne of aluminium.
- CF4: 0.00005 t x 6,630 = 0.3315 tCO2e.
- C2F6: 0.000005 t x 11,100 = 0.0555 tCO2e.
- PFCs add 0.387 tCO2e per tonne on top of the smelter's CO2.
Example emission rates; the smelter's monitored figures apply.
What Senseible does here
Senseible reads billet and ingot purchases by supplier alongside your own fuel invoices, so you can see which precursor figures are missing PFCs before your buyer files. We build the figure from your records and check every figure in-house; for the UK it must then be verified by a verifier accredited for UK CBAM. Have your own verifier? Send it to them.
Sources: HMRC, Goods within the aluminium sector in scope of UK CBAM, HM Treasury and HMRC, UK CBAM policy summary
Last reviewed 2026-11-03.