Exiobase CADv2025 - methods and changes

Summary

Source documents

Exiobase 3.8.2

World Bank CPI dataset: FP.CPI.TOTL

World Bank exchange rate dataset: PA.NUS.FCRF

Methodology readout notes

General Methodology

Exiobase provides spend-based emission factors in kgCO₂e per 2019 EUR, extracted from version 3.8.2 of the MR-IOT.

CAD applies exchange rate and inflation corrections to update these values to the relevant reporting year and selected display currency (EUR, USD, or GBP).

The following principles guide the conversion process:

1. County-first principle

   Base data is converted into the local currency of the country or region before inflation is applied. Inflation is calculated using country-specific CPI where available (source: World Bank - FP.CPI.TOTL). This avoids distortions that would occur if European inflation were applied before currency conversion.

2. Exchange rate method

   Currency values are derived using conversion tables (official World Bank indicator PA.NUS.FCRF , LCU per USD - period average). In regions where data is unavailable (e.g. Russia, Taiwan), We used the closest available alternative exchange rate source.

3. Inflation data

   CPI sources were used where available. When CPI was not available, IMF real GDP growth (NGDP_RPCH) data was applied as a proxy for inflation, using cumulative annual growth.

4. Final output values

   CAD produces emission factors in kgCO₂e per 20YY currency unit (EUR, USD, GBP, DKK), using roundtrip conversions from local currency via 2019 EUR.

Internal calculation example for South African Rand ZAR (simplified):

CO2e/2023ZAR = ConversionFactor * CO2e/2019EUR

CO2e/2023ZAR = (2019ZAR/2023ZAR)*(2019EUR/2019ZAR ) CO2e/2019EUR

Only currencies EUR, USD, GBP and DKK are available as final outputs.

Approach to base years

In line with our other databases, the inflation data as available in December 2025 is used to make an inflation correction for 2025. Later inflation updates or currency conversion updates by the IMF or World Bank are not used to further refine the 2025 inflation estimate.

This approach eliminates the need for retrospective corrections (year Y-1), aligns with databases that have less explicit methodological delays, and reduces inventory impact during annual updates.

In practical terms, this means that the factors published in this CADv2025 are considered valid for reporting year 2025. Values for reporting years 2024 and 2023 continue to use the original inflation corrections available when they were published, and do not change in this update.  

Update cadence

Expected update dates will be added later.

Data considerations and notes

General content notes

• The base data for this dataset (Exiobase 3.8.2) is EUR from 2019. Even though inflaction corrections are applied, other changes in the underlying physicality of the emissions are not. Please consider the temporal representativeness uncertainty involved when using.
• The dataset reflects spend-based emissions (kgCO₂e per unit of spending) and should not be used when better  weight or activity-based data can be obtained.
• Use aggregated regional factors (e.g., European Union, Rest-of-World) with caution, as they represent aggregations of data collected by different entities using different processes.

Emission factor value flags

• For certain regions and sectors, conversion results currently exceed 400–500 kgCO₂e per USD (or similar in other currencies). This is the result of some skewed data ratios in the base data. Although these values cannot technically not be flagged as mistakes, they should be avoided as they clearly present unrealistic values. In those cases, it is advised to pick an alternative factor for a technologically similar region.
• High-inflation or high-volatility regions (e.g. some African and Middle Eastern RoW categories), values should be interpreted with caution.

What's new in CADv2025

Important keyword changes

No changes compared to previous versions.

Important methodological changes

The underlying Exiobase emission dataset remains 3.8.2 (2019 EUR). No structural changes were made to MR-IOT data.

Factors for reporting years 2024 and earlier are unchanged in this update. They continue to use inflation factors that were available at their publication data in December 2024.

Factor changes with CADv2025

Sizeable value changes for CADv2025 are

• Taiwan 2021 : -19.5%
• Taiwan 2023 : +14.9%
• Taiwan 2024 : +14.9%
• RoW Middle East 2022: -18%
• RoW Africa 2025: -13.6%
• Turkey 2025: +12.7%
• Poland 2025:  -8.6%
• RoW America 2022: -8.1%
• RoW Europe 2022: -6.1%
• RoW Asia Pascific 2021: -6.9%
• United Kingdom 2025: -5.8%

Other changes

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External links

• Exiobase project website: www.exiobase.eu
• Taiwan National Bank exchange rates dataset
• IMF real GDP growth tracker: NGDP_RPCH
• USD/RUB historical data (used for Russia 2024)