Belgium’s Flanders region introduced a CO₂-based surcharge to its kilometre-based toll system as of 1 July, increasing toll costs by about 40%, according to Belmetal, the Belgian federation representing steel and metal distributors.
Previously, kilometre charges have been calculated based on the vehicle’s maximum authorised weight, its Euro emission standard and the region in which it travels.
For a typical Euro VI articulated truck above 32 tonnes, which in most cases falls into CO₂ Class 1, the Flemish tariff is now €0.285/km ($0.33). The previous tariff was €0.204/km, so the actual increase amounts to around €0.081/km, or roughly 40%, Kallanish hears from Belmetal’s director Chetan Corten. The increase adds roughly €8/100km in transport costs.
Although transport operators pay the toll directly, the cost is typically passed through higher freight rates or dedicated surcharges.
“The ultimate cost therefore falls on whoever contracts the transport,” Corten states. “Depending on the agreed delivery terms, that could be the mill, a distributor or the end customer.”
He notes that the measure will increase delivered steel costs.
Belgium already operates separate kilometre-based toll systems in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. The new CO₂-based component applies only to Flanders.
Brussels has indexed its rates, while Wallonia adjusted its tariffs. Belmetal says the changes mark a growing divergence in how Belgium’s three regions manage road tolls.
