Ukrainian cement exports under threat due to CBAM mechanism — experts warn of risks

The Ukrainian cement industry has come under serious pressure after the launch of the European carbon import adjustment mechanism CBAM. Market representatives say that the new rules actually create barriers that may make it impossible to supply Ukrainian cement to the European Union markets.

This was announced by the Executive Director of the Ukrcement Association Lyudmila Kripka during a panel discussion with the participation of representatives of the authorities, business, legal experts and specialized associations. The event took place within the framework of the conference “Trade Wars: The Art of Defense-2026”, organized by the law firm Ilyashev & Partners.

According to the expert, the key problem for Ukrainian producers is the introduction of the EU’s so-called “default” CO₂ emission standards at the level of 1,118 kg per ton of cement. This is more than twice the actual emission figures of Ukrainian enterprises, which creates a significant imbalance in competitive conditions.

An additional difficulty is the lack of a sufficient number of verifiers in the European Union that could confirm the compliance of manufacturers' reports. At the same time, the CBAM rules require the involvement of European verification bodies, and also stipulate that during the first report, the verifier must personally arrive in Ukraine to assess the situation on site.

Lyudmila Kripka emphasized that in conditions of martial law, the implementation of such a requirement is associated with high security risks, which significantly complicates its implementation. According to her, in such conditions, the export of Ukrainian cement to the EU becomes practically impossible.

She also noted that the new regulatory restrictions are already having negative consequences for the industry. In particular, a reduction in production, a decrease in foreign exchange revenues, and a drop in tax payments to the state budget are being recorded.

The expert recalled that during 2025, specialized associations repeatedly appealed to the institutions of the European Union with a demand to review the conditions of application of the CBAM with respect to Ukraine. Initially, the European Commission stated that the mechanism would not have a significant impact on the Ukrainian economy, however, after appeals from Ukrainian government officials, it was partially recognized that the established indicators were incorrect and could have a significant negative effect on the industry.