HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 3003.20 – Medicaments; containing antibiotics other than penicillins, streptomycins and their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale)

HS code 3003.20 is the 6-digit subheading for medicaments, containing antibiotics other than penicillins, streptomycins and their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale). It is used for azithromycin bulk powder, ciprofloxacin HCl API, doxycycline hyclate bulk, ceftriaxone sodium API and vancomycin HCl bulk.

What HS 3003.20 covers

This HS code covers bulk medicaments containing a broad spectrum of antibiotics, excluding penicillins and streptomycins, intended for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, and not yet prepared in measured doses or packaged for retail sale. This category includes a vast array of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) such as cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and many others. The primary participants in this international trade are pharmaceutical companies that specialize in manufacturing finished drug products, and API producers. Importers are typically drug formulators who purchase these bulk antibiotics to create tablets, capsules, injectables, or topical preparations. Exporters are often large chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, particularly those in regions with robust generic drug production capabilities. Key aspects of this trade involve rigorous quality assurance, adherence to international GMP standards, managing complex supply chains, and navigating regulatory approvals for drug substances. The global demand is driven by the ongoing need to combat bacterial infections and the development of new antibiotic classes.

Covers
  • Azithromycin bulk powder
  • Ciprofloxacin HCl API
  • Doxycycline hyclate bulk
  • Ceftriaxone sodium API
  • Vancomycin HCl bulk
  • Erythromycin base API
  • Metronidazole bulk
  • Gentamicin sulfate API
Examples

Mylan N.V. bulk antibiotics, Cipla Ltd. API, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries bulk drugs, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories API, Lupin Limited bulk cephalosporins

Codes often confused with 3003.20

Common mistake. This code is differentiated from 300420 (Medicaments containing other antibiotics, put up in measured doses or for retail sale) because 300320 specifically refers to the bulk, unformulated drug substance. It should also not be confused with the pure chemical compounds under Chapter 29 (e.g., 294190 for other antibiotics), as 300320 implies a medicament preparation.

3004.20Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale2941.90Antibiotics; n.e.c. in heading no. 2941

Top exporters and importers of HS code 300320, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 300320 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 54% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 31% 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 $502M
  2. 2 Italy $108M
  3. 3 Netherlands $59M

World total: $931M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $359M
  2. 2 Netherlands $136M
  3. 3 Switzerland $111M

World total: $1.1B 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 3003.20 26

Brazil splits HS 3003.20 into 26 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 3003.20.1 Containing amphenicols or their derivativesQue contenham anfenicóis ou seus derivados Group
  2. 3003.20.11 Chloramphenicol medicaments, bulkCloranfenicol, seu palmitato, seu succinato ou seu hemissuccinato
  3. 3003.20.19 Other amphenicol medicaments, bulkOutros
  4. 3003.20.2 Containing macrolides or their derivativesQue contenham macrolídios ou seus derivados Group
  5. 3003.20.21 Erythromycin medicaments, bulkEritromicina ou seus sais
  6. 3003.20.29 Other macrolide medicaments, bulkOutros
  7. 3003.20.3 Containing ansamycins or their derivativesQue contenham ansamicinas ou seus derivados Group
  8. 3003.20.31 Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, bulkRifamicina SV sódica
  9. 3003.20.32 Rifampicin medicaments, bulkRifampicina
  10. 3003.20.39 Other ansamycin medicaments, bulkOutros
  11. 3003.20.4 Containing lincosamides or their derivativesQue contenham lincosamidas ou seus derivados Group
  12. 3003.20.41 Lincomycin hydrochloride medicaments, bulkCloridrato de lincomicina
  13. 3003.20.49 Other lincosamide medicaments, bulkOutros
  14. 3003.20.5 Containing cephalosporins, cephamycins or derivatives thereofQue contenham cefalosporinas, cefamicinas ou derivados destes produtos Group
  15. 3003.20.51 Cefalotin sodium medicaments, bulkCefalotina sódica
  16. 3003.20.52 Cefaclor or cefalexin medicaments, bulkCefaclor ou cefalexina monoidratados
  17. 3003.20.59 Other cephalosporin/cephamycin medicaments, bulkOutros
  18. 3003.20.6 Containing aminoglycosides or their derivativesQue contenham aminoglucosídios ou seus derivados Group
  19. 3003.20.61 Gentamicin sulphate medicaments, bulkSulfato de gentamicina
  20. 3003.20.62 Daunorubicin medicaments, bulkDaunorubicina
  21. 3003.20.63 Idarubicin/pirarubicin medicaments, bulkIdarubicina; pirarubicina
  22. 3003.20.69 Other aminoglycoside medicaments, bulkOutros
  23. 3003.20.7 Containing polypeptides or their derivativesQue contenham polipeptídios ou seus derivados Group
  24. 3003.20.71 Vancomycin medicaments, bulkVancomicina
  25. 3003.20.72 Actinomycin medicaments, bulkActinomicinas
  26. 3003.20.73 Ciclosporin A medicaments, bulkCiclosporina A
  27. 3003.20.79 Other polypeptide antibiotic medicaments, bulkOutros
  28. 3003.20.9 OtherOutros Group
  29. 3003.20.91 Mitomycin medicaments, bulkMitomicina
  30. 3003.20.92 Tiamulin fumarate medicaments, bulkFumarato de tiamulina
  31. 3003.20.93 Bleomycin medicaments, bulkBleomicinas ou seus sais
  32. 3003.20.94 Imipenem medicaments, bulkImipenem
  33. 3003.20.95 Liposomal amphotericin B medicaments, bulkAnfotericina B em lipossomas
  34. 3003.20.99 Other antibiotic medicaments, bulkOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 30.03 →

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

Questions about HS 3003.20

What is HS code 300320?

HS code 300320 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Medicaments; containing antibiotics other than penicillins, streptomycins and their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale). This HS code covers bulk medicaments containing a broad spectrum of antibiotics, excluding penicillins and streptomycins, intended for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, and not yet prepared in measured doses or packaged for retail sale. This category includes a vast array of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) such as cephalosporins, macrolides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and many others. The primary participants in this international trade are pharmaceutical companies that specialize in manufacturing finished drug products, and API producers. Importers are typically drug formulators who purchase these bulk antibiotics to create tablets, capsules, injectables, or topical preparations. Exporters are often large chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers, particularly those in regions with robust generic drug production capabilities. Key aspects of this trade involve rigorous quality assurance, adherence to international GMP standards, managing complex supply chains, and navigating regulatory approvals for drug substances. The global demand is driven by the ongoing need to combat bacterial infections and the development of new antibiotic classes.

What products fall under HS code 300320?

Azithromycin bulk powder, Ciprofloxacin HCl API, Doxycycline hyclate bulk, Ceftriaxone sodium API, Vancomycin HCl bulk, Erythromycin base API, Metronidazole bulk, Gentamicin sulfate API

What are common misclassifications for HS code 300320?

This code is differentiated from 300420 (Medicaments containing other antibiotics, put up in measured doses or for retail sale) because 300320 specifically refers to the bulk, unformulated drug substance. It should also not be confused with the pure chemical compounds under Chapter 29 (e.g., 294190 for other antibiotics), as 300320 implies a medicament preparation.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 300320?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 300320 in UN Comtrade data were China ($502M, 54% of world exports), Italy ($108M) and the Netherlands ($59M). World exports came to about $931M, 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 300320?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 300320 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($359M, 31% of world imports), the Netherlands ($136M) and Switzerland ($111M). World imports came to about $1.1B, 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 300320 structured?

HS code 300320 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (30) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (03) identify the heading, and digits 5-6 (20) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 300320?

Brazil splits HS code 300320 into 26 NCM codes: 3003.20.11 (Chloramphenicol medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.19 (Other amphenicol medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.21 (Erythromycin medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.29 (Other macrolide medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.31 (Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.32 (Rifampicin medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.39 (Other ansamycin medicaments, bulk), 3003.20.41 (Lincomycin hydrochloride medicaments, bulk), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.