HS code · 6-digit subheading
HS Code 3003.41 – Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)
HS code 3003.41 is the 6-digit subheading for medicaments, containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). It is used for ephedrine sulfate bulk powder, ephedrine HCl raw material, ephedrine base for pharmaceutical use, bulk ephedrine solution and ephedrine API for manufacturing.
What HS 3003.41 covers
This code covers bulk medicaments containing ephedrine or its salts, intended for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, but not yet packaged for retail sale. In international trade, these are crucial raw materials or intermediate products for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Importers are typically large pharmaceutical companies or contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) that will further process, formulate, and package these active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into finished dosage forms like tablets, capsules, or syrups. Exporters are often chemical and pharmaceutical producers in countries with strong chemical synthesis capabilities. Key things to know include strict regulatory controls due to ephedrine's potential for misuse (e.g., in illicit drug manufacturing), requiring robust documentation, licensing, and supply chain security. The trade involves significant quality control checks, adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and often long-term supply agreements between manufacturers. The global demand is driven by the need for bronchodilators and decongestants.
- Covers
- Ephedrine sulfate bulk powder
- Ephedrine HCl raw material
- Ephedrine base for pharmaceutical use
- Bulk ephedrine solution
- Ephedrine API for manufacturing
- Examples
- Sigma-Aldrich Ephedrine HCl
- BASF Ephedrine Sulfate
- Sanofi API Ephedrine
- Merck KGaA Ephedrine
- Johnson Matthey Ephedrine
Codes often confused with 3003.41
Common mistake. This code is often confused with 300441 (medicaments containing ephedrine, packaged for retail sale) because the distinction lies solely in the packaging status. It might also be confused with 293941 (ephedrine and its salts, not medicaments) if the product is not clearly intended for therapeutic use.
Top exporters and importers of HS code 300341, 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 300341 in UN Comtrade data was China, with 79% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Japan, with 99% 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 China $12M 79% of world exports
- 2 India $2.5M 16% of world exports
- 3 Italy $352K 2.3% of world exports
World total: $15M Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗
Top importers 2025 · share of world imports
- 1 Japan $113M 99% of world imports
- 2 Finland $579K 0.5% of world imports
- 3 South Sudan $538K 0.5% of world imports
World total: $114M 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 code for 3003.41
Brazil does not split HS 3003.41: its NCM code is 3003.41.00.
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 3003.41
What is HS code 300341?
HS code 300341 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). This code covers bulk medicaments containing ephedrine or its salts, intended for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, but not yet packaged for retail sale. In international trade, these are crucial raw materials or intermediate products for pharmaceutical manufacturers. Importers are typically large pharmaceutical companies or contract manufacturing organizations (CMOs) that will further process, formulate, and package these active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) into finished dosage forms like tablets, capsules, or syrups. Exporters are often chemical and pharmaceutical producers in countries with strong chemical synthesis capabilities. Key things to know include strict regulatory controls due to ephedrine's potential for misuse (e.g., in illicit drug manufacturing), requiring robust documentation, licensing, and supply chain security. The trade involves significant quality control checks, adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and often long-term supply agreements between manufacturers. The global demand is driven by the need for bronchodilators and decongestants.
What products fall under HS code 300341?
Ephedrine sulfate bulk powder, Ephedrine HCl raw material, Ephedrine base for pharmaceutical use, Bulk ephedrine solution, Ephedrine API for manufacturing
What are common misclassifications for HS code 300341?
This code is often confused with 300441 (medicaments containing ephedrine, packaged for retail sale) because the distinction lies solely in the packaging status. It might also be confused with 293941 (ephedrine and its salts, not medicaments) if the product is not clearly intended for therapeutic use.
Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 300341?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 300341 in UN Comtrade data were China ($12M, 79% of world exports), India ($2.5M) and Italy ($352K). World exports came to about $15M, 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 300341?
In 2025, the top importers of HS code 300341 in UN Comtrade data were Japan ($113M, 99% of world imports), Finland ($579K) and South Sudan ($538K). World imports came to about $114M, 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 300341 structured?
HS code 300341 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 (41) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.
What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 300341?
In Brazil, HS code 300341 is NCM 3003.41.00. The last two digits are 00 because Brazil does not split this HS code further.