Germany and Slovenia were the largest directly recorded EU markets for Serbian aluminium and aluminium articles in 2025, based on EU import figures. Germany bought about €75 million, while Slovenia purchased about €72 million. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is increasing the importance of verified product-level emissions data for suppliers serving those markets.
EU imports of Serbian aluminium and aluminium articles under HS76 totalled $505.7 million, or approximately €448 million, in 2025. France accounted for €64 million, followed by Croatia at €36 million and Romania at €35 million. The trade covers alloy, gauge and surface-quality specifications alongside requirements for a verified account of associated emissions.
The country totals reflect customs-entry markets rather than the factories that ultimately incorporate the metal into construction systems, machinery or transport equipment. German and Slovenian processors can aggregate purchases and produce components for customers across multiple EU markets. This means the customs destination figures do not directly indicate end-use sectors or final buyers.
Processed aluminium categories in EU imports
EU imports included about €149 million of Serbian aluminium plate, sheet and strip under HS7606. Containers under HS7612 were valued at about €79 million. Other aluminium articles under HS7616 accounted for roughly €62 million, while profiles under HS7604 were worth around €41 million.
The import mix indicates trade in processed metal rather than only primary smelting. Serbian aluminium scrap under HS7602 was also traded, but it is not covered by the initial CBAM annex. As a result, scrap should be excluded from a precise CBAM trade total.
A Serbian exporter may sell through a distributor carrying inventory risk and certificate exposure, while a separate manufacturing customer specifies the alloy and carbon data. For exporters, identifying who sets commercial terms can be as important as identifying the customs destination. This distinction affects how emissions information is handled across trading relationships.
CBAM-linked emissions documentation and supplier records
Impol Seval, a major Serbian rolled-aluminium producer, reported about €89.7 million in export receipts in the first six months of 2025. It listed Germany, Italy and France among its key markets. The disclosures point to industrial export demand and domestic rolling capacity.
The same disclosures do not establish that specific shipments went to vehicles, aircraft or branded consumer packaging. Identifying final customers or uses would require contract or supply-chain evidence. Under current CBAM coverage, the cost passed to an EU purchaser depends on direct embedded emissions, production route, precursor inputs and verification.
Electricity procurement remains relevant to plant competitiveness and buyers’ broader sustainability requirements. However, indirect electricity emissions should not simply be added to the initial CBAM certificate calculation for aluminium. Suppliers are expected to distinguish legal emissions reporting from voluntary low-carbon commercial claims.
Serbia’s Ministry of Finance CBAM exposure estimate
Serbia’s Ministry of Finance estimated the country’s aluminium CBAM exposure at €19.5 million for 2026. It projected that exposure would remain near that level through much of the projection period. The estimate keeps 2025 exports fixed and uses default emissions values.
The ministry said actual obligations could differ as transactions change, verified factory emissions are updated and EU certificate prices move. It also modelled possible relief if EU authorities recognise carbon prices paid in Serbia. That recognition cannot be assumed automatically.
Suppliers able to allocate emissions to specific product batches and disclose data consistently across trading entities are better placed to defend access to European manufacturing chains than those relying on generic low-carbon figures. Demonstrating both physical quality and documentary compliance is part of that positioning under CBAM-related requirements.
Elevated by CBAM.Clarion Engineer