# What are the UK CBAM default values for stainless steel sections?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/uk-cbam-stainless-sections-default

Stainless angles, shapes and sections that are only hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded (7222 40 10) take a UK CBAM default of 6.491 tCO2e per tonne. Cold-formed or cold-finished sections (7222 40 50) are 5.946, and sections cold-formed and further worked, or forged (7222 40 90), 6.192.

## Defaults under 7222 40

- 7222 40 10: angles, shapes and sections, only hot-rolled, hot-drawn or extruded: 6.491 tCO2e per tonne.
- 7222 40 50: not further worked than cold-formed or cold-finished: 5.946.
- 7222 40 90: cold-formed and further worked, forged, or hot-formed by other means and further worked: 6.192.
- For comparison, hot-rolled stainless coil above 10 mm (7219 11 00): 5.687.

## The finishing step picks the code

A hot-rolled stainless angle and a cold-formed channel of the same grade sit 0.545 apart. Once a section is worked beyond forming, its description moves toward 7222 40 90. Confirm the code on the UK Trade Tariff before you quote a default to your buyer.

## What sits behind an actual figure

Fuel and carbon inputs in your melt shop count, and so do the precursors you buy in. Ferro-chromium is a UK CBAM good with its own default of 2.585 per tonne for grades above 4% carbon, so a supplier's verified figure for it can matter. Grid power is outside the charge, which is based on direct emissions.

## A 25 tonne order to a UK stockist

- Hot-rolled stainless angles, 7222 40 10: 25 t x 6.491 = 162.275 tCO2e.
- If the same 25 t were cold-formed channel, 7222 40 50: 25 t x 5.946 = 148.650 tCO2e.
- Difference from the forming route alone: 13.625 tCO2e on one order.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads ferro-alloy, scrap and fuel invoices with dispatch tonnes by section type, so your figure can be set against 6.491 or 5.946. 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.

- [UK CBAM for Indian exporters](https://senseible.earth/cbam)
- [UK CBAM stainless sheet defaults](https://senseible.earth/answers/uk-cbam-stainless-sheet-default)
- [Ferro-chrome and ferro-manganese defaults](https://senseible.earth/answers/uk-cbam-ferro-manganese-chrome-default)

Sources: [HMRC, UK CBAM iron and steel default values (published 16 October 2026)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/check-the-default-values-for-the-carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-cbam/iron-and-steel-default-values), [HM Treasury and HMRC, UK CBAM policy summary](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-cbam-policy-summary/carbon-border-adjustment-mechanism-cbam-policy-summary)

Last reviewed 2026-11-03.