CBAM 2026 moves from the transition phase into the charging phase, and the EU carbon border mechanism becomes operational. The first batch covers six sectors, steel, aluminium, cement, fertiliser, electricity and hydrogen. Petrochemicals are not on the list yet, but the procurement pressure has already moved upstream.

Before issuing a purchase order, EU buyers now ask two things: does this batch carry a product carbon footprint (PCF), and can it be independently re-computed with SHA-256. Carbon data has moved from a nice-to-have to a pre-clearance condition.

For SNSUC this requirement fits our build, our batch-level PCF already rides on the SHA-256 bill-of-lading fingerprint, so title confirmation and carbon-data attestation close on the same channel. Export refiners selling into Europe can use this verifiable carbon data to pay a smaller CBAM levy.

Free allowances phase out linearly and hit zero in 2034. The window is eight years, but term contracts and tenders already price in carbon cost. With Brent at 110.194, the energy-side carbon base also rises, so wiring PCF into the chain early beats wiring it late.