How are shipping emissions calculated?

Emissions are calculated using the GLEC Framework v3: multiply the cargo weight (tonnes) by the route distance (km) by the emissions factor for the transport mode (sea: 0.016 kg CO2/tkm, air: 0.602, road: 0.096, rail: 0.028).

What is EU CBAM and does it affect South African exporters?

The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) requires EU importers to account for the embedded carbon emissions per tonne of product for iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen. Its definitive regime began on 1 January 2026 (transitional reporting ran from October 2023), and a 50-tonne annual de minimis now exempts small importers. South African exporters of these goods to the EU should be ready to supply verified per-tonne emissions data to their EU customers.

Which transport mode has the lowest CO2 emissions?

Sea freight has the lowest emissions per tonne-kilometre at approximately 0.016 kg CO2/tkm — about 6 times lower than road and 38 times lower than air freight.

CO2 Shipping Emissions Calculator South Africa 2026

Shipment details

Origin

Destination

Transport mode

Cargo weight (tonnes)

Distance (km) (auto-filled)

Product type (for CBAM)

Emissions factors (GLEC Framework v3)

Mode	kg CO2e / tonne-km
Sea (container)	0.016
Rail (diesel)	0.028
Road (diesel HGV)	0.096
Air (general)	0.602

Source: Global Logistics Emissions Council (GLEC) Framework v3, aligned with ISO 14083 (the international standard for logistics GHG accounting). Distances are approximate great-circle + routing adjustments.