HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 3003.90 – Medicaments; (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)

HS code 3003.90 is the 6-digit subheading for medicaments, (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). It is used for paracetamol API, ibuprofen API, metformin hydrochloride API, omeprazole API and simvastatin API.

What HS 3003.90 covers

This 'other' category within HS 3003 encompasses a vast array of bulk medicaments for therapeutic or prophylactic uses that do not contain antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids, or their derivatives, and are not packaged for retail sale. It serves as a catch-all for many common active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and bulk formulations that are traded between pharmaceutical companies for further manufacturing, compounding, or packaging. Importers are typically drug manufacturers, while exporters are often API producers or large-scale generic drug manufacturers. The trade in these bulk medicaments is a foundational part of the global pharmaceutical supply chain, enabling the production of countless retail-ready medications. Quality standards, purity, and regulatory approvals are critical considerations for international trade in these goods, impacting drug safety and efficacy worldwide.

Covers
  • Paracetamol API
  • Ibuprofen API
  • Metformin hydrochloride API
  • Omeprazole API
  • Simvastatin API
  • Aspirin API
  • Gabapentin API
  • Atorvastatin calcium API
Examples
  • Tylenol (bulk API)
  • Advil (bulk API)
  • Glucophage (bulk API)
  • Prilosec (bulk API)
  • Zocor (bulk API)

Codes often confused with 3003.90

Common mistake. This code is often confused with other 3003 subheadings if the active principle falls into a specific category (e.g., 300310 for penicillins), or with Chapter 29 for pure unformulated chemical compounds.

30.03Medicaments; (not goods of heading no. 3002, 3005 or 3006) of two or more constituents mixed together for therapeutic or prophylactic use not in measured doses or in forms or packings for retail sale3003.10Medicaments; containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale)

Top exporters and importers of HS code 300390, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 300390 in UN Comtrade data was Portugal, with 28% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was Saudi Arabia, with 17% 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 Portugal $3.6B
  2. 2 Belgium $996M
  3. 3 United States $915M

World total: $12.7B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 Saudi Arabia $2.2B
  2. 2 United States $1.9B
  3. 3 Germany $1.4B

World total: $12.9B 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 3003.90 75

Brazil splits HS 3003.90 into 75 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 3003.90.1 Containing vitamins or other products of heading 29.36Que contenham vitaminas ou outros produtos da posição 29.36 Group
  2. 3003.90.11 Calcium folinate medicaments, bulkFolinato de cálcio (leucovorina)
  3. 3003.90.12 Nicotinamide medicaments, bulkNicotinamida
  4. 3003.90.13 Hydroxo-/cyanocobalamin medicaments, bulkHidroxocobalamina ou seus sais; cianocobalamina
  5. 3003.90.14 Vitamin A (retinol) medicaments, bulkVitamina A1 (retinol) ou seus derivados, exceto o ácido retinoico (tretinoína)
  6. 3003.90.15 Calcium D-pantothenate or vitamin D3 drugs, bulkD-Pantotenato de cálcio; vitamina D3 (colecalciferol)
  7. 3003.90.16 High-potency vitamin A/D3 ester drugs, bulkÉsteres das vitaminas A e D3, em concentração igual ou superior a 1.500.000 UI/g de vitamina A e igual ou superior a 50.000 UI/g de vitamina D3
  8. 3003.90.17 Tretinoin medicaments, bulkÁcido retinoico (tretinoína)
  9. 3003.90.19 Other vitamin medicaments, bulkOutros
  10. 3003.90.2 Containing enzymes but not containing vitamins or other products of heading 29.36Que contenham enzimas mas que não contenham vitaminas nem outros produtos da posição 29.36 Group
  11. 3003.90.21 Streptokinase medicaments, bulkEstreptoquinase
  12. 3003.90.22 L-Asparaginase medicaments, bulkL-Asparaginase
  13. 3003.90.23 Deoxyribonuclease medicaments, bulkDeoxirribonuclease
  14. 3003.90.24 Idursulfase medicaments, bulkIdursulfase
  15. 3003.90.25 Agalsidase alfa/velaglucerase alfa drugs, bulkalfa-Agalsidase; alfavelaglicerase
  16. 3003.90.29 Other enzyme medicaments, bulkOutros
  17. 3003.90.3 Containing products of headings 29.16 to 29.20, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 and 3003.90.2Que contenham produtos das posições 29.16 a 29.20, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 e 3003.90.2 Group
  18. 3003.90.31 Permethrin, benzyl benzoate etc. drugs, bulkPermetrina; nitrato de propatila; benzoato de benzila; dioctilsulfossuccinato de sódio
  19. 3003.90.32 Cholic/deoxycholic/Mg dehydrocholate drugs, bulkÁcido cólico; ácido deoxicólico; sal magnésico do ácido deidrocólico
  20. 3003.90.33 Gluconic acid/gluconate medicaments, bulkÁcido glucônico, seus sais ou seus ésteres
  21. 3003.90.34 Aspirin, methyl salicylate etc. drugs, bulkÁcido o-acetilsalicílico; o-acetilsalicilato de alumínio; salicilato de metila; diclorvós
  22. 3003.90.35 Calcium lactophosphate medicaments, bulkLactofosfato de cálcio
  23. 3003.90.36 Lactic acid or diiodophenylacetic acid drugs, bulkÁcido láctico, seus sais ou seus ésteres; ácido 4-(4-hidroxifenoxi)-3,5-di-iodofenilacético
  24. 3003.90.37 Fumaric acid/fumarate medicaments, bulkÁcido fumárico, seus sais ou seus ésteres
  25. 3003.90.38 Etretinate or fosfestrol medicaments, bulkEtretinato; fosfestrol ou seus sais de di ou tetrassódio
  26. 3003.90.39 Other carboxylic acid/ester medicaments, bulkOutros
  27. 3003.90.4 Containing products of headings 29.21 and 29.22, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 to 3003.90.3Que contenham produtos das posições 29.21 e 29.22, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 a 3003.90.3 Group
  28. 3003.90.41 Tranylcypromine or diethylpropion drugs, bulkSulfato de tranilcipromina; dietilpropiona
  29. 3003.90.42 Ketamine hydrochloride medicaments, bulkCloridrato de ketamina
  30. 3003.90.43 Clenbuterol medicaments, bulkClembuterol ou seu cloridrato
  31. 3003.90.44 Tamoxifen medicaments, bulkTamoxifen ou seu citrato
  32. 3003.90.45 Levodopa or methyldopa medicaments, bulkLevodopa; alfa-metildopa
  33. 3003.90.46 Phenylephrine, propranolol etc. drugs, bulkCloridrato de fenilefrina; mirtecaína; propranolol ou seus sais
  34. 3003.90.47 Diclofenac Na/K/diethylammonium drugs, bulkDiclofenaco de sódio; diclofenaco de potássio; diclofenaco de dietilamônio
  35. 3003.90.48 Chlorambucil, melphalan etc. drugs, bulkClorambucil; clormetina (DCI) ou seu cloridrato; melfalano; toremifene ou seu citrato
  36. 3003.90.49 Other amino-compound medicaments, bulkOutros
  37. 3003.90.5 Containing products of headings 29.24 to 29.26, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 to 3003.90.4Que contenham produtos das posições 29.24 a 29.26, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 a 3003.90.4 Group
  38. 3003.90.51 Metoclopramide or closantel drugs, bulkMetoclopramida ou seu cloridrato; closantel
  39. 3003.90.52 Atenolol, prilocaine or thalidomide drugs, bulkAtenolol; prilocaína ou seu cloridrato; talidomida
  40. 3003.90.53 Lidocaine or flutamide medicaments, bulkLidocaína ou seu cloridrato; flutamida
  41. 3003.90.54 Fenproporex medicaments, bulkFemproporex
  42. 3003.90.55 Paracetamol/bromopride medicaments, bulkParacetamol; bromoprida
  43. 3003.90.56 Amitraz/cypermethrin medicaments, bulkAmitraz; cipermetrina
  44. 3003.90.57 Chlorhexidine/pentamidine isetionate drugs, bulkClorexidina ou seus sais; isetionato de pentamidina
  45. 3003.90.58 Carmustine, deferoxamine etc. drugs, bulkAminoglutetimida; carmustina; deferoxamina (desferrioxamina B) ou seus sais, derivados destes produtos; lomustina
  46. 3003.90.59 Other amide/imide/imine/nitrile drugs, bulkOutros
  47. 3003.90.6 Containing products of headings 29.30 to 29.32, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 to 3003.90.5Que contenham produtos das posições 29.30 a 29.32, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 a 3003.90.5 Group
  48. 3003.90.61 Quercetin medicaments, bulkQuercetina
  49. 3003.90.62 Tiapride medicaments, bulkTiaprida
  50. 3003.90.63 Disodium etidronate medicaments, bulkEtidronato dissódico
  51. 3003.90.64 Amiodarone hydrochloride medicaments, bulkCloridrato de amiodarona
  52. 3003.90.65 Nitrovin or moxidectin medicaments, bulkNitrovin; moxidectina
  53. 3003.90.66 Clodronic acid, streptozocin etc. drugs, bulkÁcido clodrônico ou seu sal dissódico; estreptozocina; fotemustina
  54. 3003.90.67 Carbocisteine or sulfiram drugs, bulkCarbocisteína; sulfiram
  55. 3003.90.69 Other organo-inorganic/O-heterocyclic drugs, bulkOutros
  56. 3003.90.7 Containing products of heading 29.33, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 to 3003.90.6Que contenham produtos da posição 29.33, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 a 3003.90.6 Group
  57. 3003.90.71 Terfenadine, trimethoprim etc. drugs, bulkTerfenadina; talniflumato; malato ácido de cleboprida; econazol ou seu nitrato; nitrato de isoconazol; flubendazol; cloridrato de mepivacaína; trimetoprima; cloridrato de bupivacaína
  58. 3003.90.72 Loperamide, nifedipine etc. drugs, bulkCloridrato de loperamida; fembendazol; ketorolac trometamina; nifedipina; nimodipina; nitrendipina
  59. 3003.90.73 Albendazole, praziquantel etc. drugs, bulkAlbendazol ou seu sulfóxido; mebendazol; 6-mercaptopurina; metilsulfato de amezínio; oxifendazol; praziquantel
  60. 3003.90.74 Alprazolam, diazepam etc. drugs, bulkAlprazolam; bromazepam; clordiazepóxido; cloridrato de petidina; diazepam; droperidol; mazindol; triazolam
  61. 3003.90.75 Phenytoin, isoniazid etc. drugs, bulkBenzetimida ou seu cloridrato; fenitoína ou seu sal sódico; isoniazida; pirazinamida
  62. 3003.90.76 Metronidazole, azathioprine etc. drugs, bulkÁcido 2-(2-metil-3-cloroanilina)nicotínico ou seu sal de lisina; metronidazol ou seus sais; azatioprina; nitrato de miconazol
  63. 3003.90.77 Enrofloxacin, enalapril etc. drugs, bulkEnrofloxacina; maleato de enalapril; maleato de pirilamina; nicarbazina; norfloxacina; sais de piperazina
  64. 3003.90.78 Imatinib, lopinavir etc. drugs, bulkAltretamina; bortezomib; cloridrato de erlotinibe; dacarbazina; disoproxilfumarato de tenofovir; enfuvirtida; fluspirileno; letrozol; lopinavir; mesilato de imatinib; nelfinavir ou seu mesilato; nevirapine; pemetrexed; saquinavir; sulfato de abacavir; sulfato de atazanavir; sulfato de indinavir; temozolomida; tioguanina; tiopental sódico; tosilato de niraparibe; trietilenotiofosforamida; trimetrexato; uracil e tegafur; verteporfin
  65. 3003.90.79 Other N-heterocyclic medicaments, bulkOutros
  66. 3003.90.8 Containing products of headings 29.34, 29.35 and 29.38, but not containing products of items 3003.90.1 to 3003.90.7Que contenham produtos das posições 29.34, 29.35 e 29.38, mas que não contenham produtos dos itens 3003.90.1 a 3003.90.7 Group
  67. 3003.90.81 Levamisole/tetramisole medicaments, bulkLevamisol ou seus sais; tetramisol
  68. 3003.90.82 Sulfadiazine or sulfamethoxazole drugs, bulkSulfadiazina ou seu sal sódico; sulfametoxazol
  69. 3003.90.83 Cloxazolam, ketazolam, piroxicam etc. drugs, bulkCloxazolam; ketazolam; piroxicam; tenoxicam
  70. 3003.90.84 Phthalylsulfathiazole or inosine drugs, bulkFtalilsulfatiazol; inosina
  71. 3003.90.85 Promethazine, glyburide etc. drugs, bulkEnantato de flufenazina; prometazina; gliburida; rutosídio; deslanosídio
  72. 3003.90.86 Chlortalidone/furosemide medicaments, bulkClortalidona; furosemida
  73. 3003.90.87 Tizanidine, ketoconazole etc. drugs, bulkCloridrato de tizanidina; cetoconazol; furazolidona
  74. 3003.90.88 Efavirenz, ritonavir etc. drugs, bulkAmprenavir; aprepitanto; delavirdina ou seu mesilato; efavirenz; emtricitabina; etopósido; everolimus; fosamprenavir cálcico; fosfato de fludarabina; gencitabina ou seu cloridrato; mesilato de dabrafenibe; raltitrexida; ritonavir; sirolimus; tacrolimus; temsirolimus; tenipósido; tipranavir
  75. 3003.90.89 Other sulphonamide, glycoside etc. drugs, bulkOutros
  76. 3003.90.9 OtherOutros Group
  77. 3003.90.91 Pollen extract medicaments, bulkExtrato de pólen
  78. 3003.90.92 Chrysarobin or disophenol drugs, bulkCrisarobina; disofenol
  79. 3003.90.93 Diclofenac resinate medicaments, bulkDiclofenaco resinato
  80. 3003.90.94 Silymarin medicaments, bulkSilimarina
  81. 3003.90.95 Busulfan, propofol, platins etc. drugs, bulkBussulfano; dexormaplatina; dietilestilbestrol ou seu dipropionato; enloplatina; iproplatina; lobaplatina; miboplatina; miltefosina; mitotano; ormaplatina; procarbazina ou seu cloridrato; propofol; sebriplatina; zeniplatina
  82. 3003.90.96 Iron dextran complex medicaments, bulkComplexo de ferro dextrana
  83. 3003.90.97 Sevoflurane medicaments, bulkSevoflurano
  84. 3003.90.99 Other medicaments n.e.s., 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 3003.90

What is HS code 300390?

HS code 300390 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Medicaments; (not containing antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). This 'other' category within HS 3003 encompasses a vast array of bulk medicaments for therapeutic or prophylactic uses that do not contain antibiotics, hormones, alkaloids, or their derivatives, and are not packaged for retail sale. It serves as a catch-all for many common active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and bulk formulations that are traded between pharmaceutical companies for further manufacturing, compounding, or packaging. Importers are typically drug manufacturers, while exporters are often API producers or large-scale generic drug manufacturers. The trade in these bulk medicaments is a foundational part of the global pharmaceutical supply chain, enabling the production of countless retail-ready medications. Quality standards, purity, and regulatory approvals are critical considerations for international trade in these goods, impacting drug safety and efficacy worldwide.

What products fall under HS code 300390?

Paracetamol API, Ibuprofen API, Metformin hydrochloride API, Omeprazole API, Simvastatin API, Aspirin API, Gabapentin API, Atorvastatin calcium API

What are common misclassifications for HS code 300390?

This code is often confused with other 3003 subheadings if the active principle falls into a specific category (e.g., 300310 for penicillins), or with Chapter 29 for pure unformulated chemical compounds.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 300390?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 300390 in UN Comtrade data were Portugal ($3.6B, 28% of world exports), Belgium ($996M) and the United States ($915M). World exports came to about $12.7B, 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.

Which countries are the top importers of goods under HS code 300390?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 300390 in UN Comtrade data were Saudi Arabia ($2.2B, 17% of world imports), the United States ($1.9B) and Germany ($1.4B). World imports came to about $12.9B, 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 300390 structured?

HS code 300390 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 (90) specify the subheading. This code is standardized globally by the World Customs Organization.

What is the Brazil NCM code for HS code 300390?

Brazil splits HS code 300390 into 75 NCM codes: 3003.90.11 (Calcium folinate medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.12 (Nicotinamide medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.13 (Hydroxo-/cyanocobalamin medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.14 (Vitamin A (retinol) medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.15 (Calcium D-pantothenate or vitamin D3 drugs, bulk), 3003.90.16 (High-potency vitamin A/D3 ester drugs, bulk), 3003.90.17 (Tretinoin medicaments, bulk), 3003.90.19 (Other vitamin medicaments, bulk), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.