HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 2941.90 – Antibiotics; n.e.c. in heading no. 2941

HS code 2941.90 is the 6-digit subheading for antibiotics, n.e.c. in heading no. 2941. It is used for ceftriaxone sodium, meropenem trihydrate, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, vancomycin hydrochloride and linezolid.

What HS 2941.90 covers

This HS code serves as a crucial 'basket' category for all other antibiotics and their derivatives, along with their salts, not specifically enumerated in subheadings 294110 through 294150. It encompasses a vast array of diverse antibiotic classes, including newer generations, less common compounds, or highly specialized anti-infectives such as cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, and many others. Trade primarily involves bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) destined for pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, and development. Importers are global pharmaceutical companies, including both innovators and generic producers, constantly seeking new or specialized anti-infectives to combat evolving bacterial threats. Exporters are often advanced chemical synthesis companies and biotech firms. Key considerations include intellectual property rights for novel compounds, complex synthesis routes, stringent regulatory requirements, and the ongoing global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance through the development and supply of diverse antibiotic options.

Covers
  • Ceftriaxone sodium
  • Meropenem trihydrate
  • Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
  • Vancomycin hydrochloride
  • Linezolid
  • Daptomycin
  • Fosfomycin tromethamine
  • Polymyxin B sulfate
Examples
  • Rocephin (ceftriaxone)
  • Merrem (meropenem)
  • Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
  • Vancocin (vancomycin)

Codes often confused with 2941.90

Common mistake. This code is the default for any antibiotic API not fitting the specific categories (penicillins, streptomycins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycin), making misclassification with those specific codes less likely, but it could be confused with 3004 if in dosage form.

30.04Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic use, put up in measured doses (incl. those in the form of transdermal admin. systems) or packed for retail sale

Top exporters and importers of HS code 294190, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 294190 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 40% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 14% of world imports. Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Top exporters 2025 · share of world exports

  1. 1 China $2.7B
  2. 2 Switzerland $851M
  3. 3 Italy $681M

World total: $6.8B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Italy $1.1B
  2. 2 India $1.0B
  3. 3 United States $595M

World total: $7.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

How these figures are built

109 countries reported 2025 trade to UN Comtrade in HS 2022, and their own totals are used. Countries that did not report are estimated from what other countries recorded trading with them. Those estimates miss trade with other non-reporting countries, so they can be low, and a non-reporting country can rank higher than shown or be missing from the list. World totals add both and leave out trade between two non-reporting countries. Figures are in current US dollars; reported imports are mostly valued CIF and exports FOB, and exports include re-exports. The UN Comtrade links show the underlying records; they can also list a few reporters left out here (regional groups and older HS editions).

Source: UN Comtrade (United Nations Statistics Division), 2025 annual data.

Brazil NCM codes for 2941.90 35

Brazil splits HS 2941.90 into 35 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 2941.90.1 Rifamycins and their derivatives; salts thereofRifamicinas e seus derivados; sais destes produtos Group
  2. 2941.90.11 Rifamycin SRifamicina S
  3. 2941.90.12 Rifampicin (rifamycin AMP)Rifampicina (rifamicina AMP)
  4. 2941.90.13 Rifamycin SV sodiumRifamicina SV sódica
  5. 2941.90.19 Other rifamycins and derivativesOutros
  6. 2941.90.2 Lincomycin and its derivatives; salts thereofLincomicina e seus derivados; sais destes produtos Group
  7. 2941.90.21 Lincomycin hydrochlorideCloridrato de lincomicina
  8. 2941.90.22 Clindamycin phosphateFosfato de clindamicina
  9. 2941.90.29 Lincomycin; other derivatives and saltsOutros
  10. 2941.90.3 Cephalosporins and cephamycins, and their derivatives; salts thereofCefalosporinas e cefamicinas, e seus derivados; sais destes produtos Group
  11. 2941.90.31 Ceftriaxone and its saltsCeftriaxona e seus sais
  12. 2941.90.32 Cefoperazone and its salts; cefazolin sodiumCefoperazona e seus sais, cefazolina sódica
  13. 2941.90.33 Cefaclor, cefalexin monohydrates; cefalotin sodiumCefaclor e cefalexina monoidratados, cefalotina sódica
  14. 2941.90.34 Cefadroxil and its saltsCefadroxil e seus sais
  15. 2941.90.35 Cefotaxime sodiumCefotaxima sódica
  16. 2941.90.36 Cefoxitin and its saltsCefoxitina e seus sais
  17. 2941.90.37 Cephalosporin CCefalosporina C
  18. 2941.90.39 Other cephalosporins and cephamycinsOutros
  19. 2941.90.4 Aminoglycosides and their saltsAminoglucosídios e seus sais Group
  20. 2941.90.41 Neomycin sulphateSulfato de neomicina
  21. 2941.90.42 Gentamicin embonate (gentamicin pamoate)Embonato de gentamicina (pamoato de gentamicina)
  22. 2941.90.43 Gentamicin sulphateSulfato de gentamicina
  23. 2941.90.49 Other aminoglycosides and their saltsOutros
  24. 2941.90.5 Macrolides and their saltsMacrolídios e seus sais Group
  25. 2941.90.51 Spiramycin embonate (spiramycin pamoate)Embonato de espiramicina (pamoato de espiramicina)
  26. 2941.90.59 Other macrolide antibiotics and their saltsOutros
  27. 2941.90.6 Polyenes and their saltsPolienos e seus sais Group
  28. 2941.90.61 Nystatin and its saltsNistatina e seus sais
  29. 2941.90.62 Amphotericin B and its saltsAnfotericina B e seus sais
  30. 2941.90.69 Other polyene antibiotics and their saltsOutros
  31. 2941.90.7 Polyethers and their saltsPoliéteres e seus sais Group
  32. 2941.90.71 Monensin sodiumMonensina sódica
  33. 2941.90.72 NarasinNarasina
  34. 2941.90.73 AvilamycinsAvilamicinas
  35. 2941.90.79 Other polyether antibiotics and their saltsOutros
  36. 2941.90.8 Polypeptides and their saltsPolipeptídios e seus sais Group
  37. 2941.90.81 Polymyxins and salts, other than colistin sulphatePolimixinas e seus sais, exceto sulfato de colistina
  38. 2941.90.82 Colistin sulphateSulfato de colistina
  39. 2941.90.83 Virginiamycins and their saltsVirginiamicinas e seus sais
  40. 2941.90.89 Other polypeptide antibiotics and saltsOutros
  41. 2941.90.9 OtherOutros Group
  42. 2941.90.91 Griseofulvin and its saltsGriseofulvina e seus sais
  43. 2941.90.92 Tiamulin fumarateFumarato de tiamulina
  44. 2941.90.99 Other antibioticsOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 29.41 →

Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text is official; the English is our translation.

Questions about HS 2941.90

What is HS code 294190?

HS code 294190 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Antibiotics; n.e.c. in heading no. 2941. This HS code serves as a crucial 'basket' category for all other antibiotics and their derivatives, along with their salts, not specifically enumerated in subheadings 294110 through 294150. It encompasses a vast array of diverse antibiotic classes, including newer generations, less common compounds, or highly specialized anti-infectives such as cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, glycopeptides, and many others. Trade primarily involves bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) destined for pharmaceutical manufacturing, research, and development. Importers are global pharmaceutical companies, including both innovators and generic producers, constantly seeking new or specialized anti-infectives to combat evolving bacterial threats. Exporters are often advanced chemical synthesis companies and biotech firms. Key considerations include intellectual property rights for novel compounds, complex synthesis routes, stringent regulatory requirements, and the ongoing global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance through the development and supply of diverse antibiotic options.

What products fall under HS code 294190?

Ceftriaxone sodium, Meropenem trihydrate, Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, Vancomycin hydrochloride, Linezolid, Daptomycin, Fosfomycin tromethamine, Polymyxin B sulfate

What are common misclassifications for HS code 294190?

This code is the default for any antibiotic API not fitting the specific categories (penicillins, streptomycins, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, erythromycin), making misclassification with those specific codes less likely, but it could be confused with 3004 if in dosage form.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 294190?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 294190 in UN Comtrade data were China ($2.7B, 40% of world exports), Switzerland ($851M) and Italy ($681M). World exports came to about $6.8B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 294190?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 294190 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($1.1B, 14% of world imports), India ($1.0B) and the United States ($595M). World imports came to about $7.7B, adding countries' reported figures and partner-based estimates for those that did not report (UN Comtrade data). Countries that did not report 2025 data are estimated from partner records, which can understate them.

How is HS code 294190 structured?

HS code 294190 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (29) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (41) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 294190?

Brazil splits HS code 294190 into 35 NCM codes: 2941.90.11 (Rifamycin S), 2941.90.12 (Rifampicin (rifamycin AMP)), 2941.90.13 (Rifamycin SV sodium), 2941.90.19 (Other rifamycins and derivatives), 2941.90.21 (Lincomycin hydrochloride), 2941.90.22 (Clindamycin phosphate), 2941.90.29 (Lincomycin; other derivatives and salts), 2941.90.31 (Ceftriaxone and its salts), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.