HS code · 6-digit subheading

HS Code 3004.20 – Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale

HS code 3004.20 is the 6-digit subheading for medicaments, containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale. It is used for azithromycin tablets, ciprofloxacin tablets, doxycycline capsules, cephalexin capsules and metronidazole tablets.

What HS 3004.20 covers

This HS code covers medicaments containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins, or their derivatives) that are packaged for retail sale. This broad category includes a vast array of modern antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines, in various retail-ready forms like tablets, syrups, and injections. These medicines are crucial for combating a diverse range of bacterial infections and are traded extensively between pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, and healthcare providers across the globe. Importers are typically national distributors, hospitals, and pharmacies, while exporters are major pharmaceutical manufacturers. The trade is heavily regulated to ensure quality, safety, and proper use, with ongoing global efforts to manage antimicrobial resistance. This category represents a significant portion of the global pharmaceutical market due to the widespread need for effective infection treatments.

Covers
  • Azithromycin tablets
  • Ciprofloxacin tablets
  • Doxycycline capsules
  • Cephalexin capsules
  • Metronidazole tablets
  • Vancomycin injections
  • Clindamycin capsules
  • Levofloxacin tablets
Examples
  • Zithromax
  • Cipro
  • Vibramycin
  • Keflex
  • Flagyl
  • Vancocin

Codes often confused with 3004.20

Common mistake. Often confused with 300410 if the specific antibiotic type is not carefully identified, or 300320 if the antibiotic medicament is not packaged for retail.

3004.10Medicaments; containing penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale3003.20Medicaments; containing antibiotics other than penicillins, streptomycins and their derivatives, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not in measured doses, not packaged for retail sale)

Top exporters and importers of HS code 300420, 2025

In 2025, the largest exporter of HS code 300420 in UN Comtrade data was Italy, with 14% of world exports; the largest importer in UN Comtrade data was the United States, with 13% 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 Italy $2.0B
  2. 2 Switzerland $1.5B
  3. 3 United States $1.2B

World total: $14.4B Reported figures on UN Comtrade ↗

Top importers 2025 · share of world imports

  1. 1 United States $1.9B
  2. 2 China $1.4B
  3. 3 Switzerland $1.3B

World total: $15.4B 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 3004.20 26

Brazil splits HS 3004.20 into 26 NCM codes, Mercosur's 8-digit tariff lines.

  1. 3004.20.1 Containing amphenicols or their saltsQue contenham anfenicóis ou seus sais Group
  2. 3004.20.11 Chloramphenicol medicaments, dosed/retailCloranfenicol, seu palmitato, seu succinato ou seu hemissuccinato
  3. 3004.20.19 Other amphenicol medicaments, dosed/retailOutros
  4. 3004.20.2 Containing macrolides or their derivativesQue contenham macrolídios ou seus derivados Group
  5. 3004.20.21 Erythromycin medicaments, dosed/retailEritromicina ou seus sais
  6. 3004.20.29 Other macrolide medicaments, dosed/retailOutros
  7. 3004.20.3 Containing ansamycins or their derivativesQue contenham ansamicinas ou seus derivados Group
  8. 3004.20.31 Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, dosed/retailRifamicina SV sódica
  9. 3004.20.32 Rifampicin medicaments, dosed/retailRifampicina
  10. 3004.20.39 Other ansamycin medicaments, dosed/retailOutros
  11. 3004.20.4 Containing lincosamides or their derivativesQue contenham lincosamidas ou seus derivados Group
  12. 3004.20.41 Lincomycin hydrochloride medicaments, dosed/retailCloridrato de lincomicina
  13. 3004.20.49 Other lincosamide medicaments, dosed/retailOutros
  14. 3004.20.5 Containing cephalosporins, cephamycins or derivatives thereofQue contenham cefalosporinas, cefamicinas ou derivados destes produtos Group
  15. 3004.20.51 Cefalotin sodium medicaments, dosed/retailCefalotina sódica
  16. 3004.20.52 Cefaclor or cefalexin medicaments, dosed/retailCefaclor ou cefalexina monoidratados
  17. 3004.20.59 Other cephalosporin/cephamycin drugs, dosed/retailOutros
  18. 3004.20.6 Containing aminoglycosides or their derivativesQue contenham aminoglucosídios ou seus derivados Group
  19. 3004.20.61 Gentamicin sulphate medicaments, dosed/retailSulfato de gentamicina
  20. 3004.20.62 Daunorubicin medicaments, dosed/retailDaunorubicina
  21. 3004.20.63 Idarubicin/pirarubicin medicaments, dosed/retailIdarubicina; pirarubicina
  22. 3004.20.69 Other aminoglycoside medicaments, dosed/retailOutros
  23. 3004.20.7 Containing polypeptides or their derivativesQue contenham polipeptídios ou seus derivados Group
  24. 3004.20.71 Vancomycin medicaments, dosed/retailVancomicina
  25. 3004.20.72 Actinomycin medicaments, dosed/retailActinomicinas
  26. 3004.20.73 Ciclosporin A medicaments, dosed/retailCiclosporina A
  27. 3004.20.79 Other polypeptide antibiotic drugs, dosed/retailOutros
  28. 3004.20.9 OtherOutros Group
  29. 3004.20.91 Mitomycin medicaments, dosed/retailMitomicina
  30. 3004.20.92 Tiamulin fumarate medicaments, dosed/retailFumarato de tiamulina
  31. 3004.20.93 Bleomycin medicaments, dosed/retailBleomicinas ou seus sais
  32. 3004.20.94 Imipenem medicaments, dosed/retailImipenem
  33. 3004.20.95 Liposomal amphotericin B medicaments, dosed/retailAnfotericina B em lipossomas
  34. 3004.20.99 Other antibiotic medicaments, dosed/retailOutros

All Brazil NCM codes in heading 30.04 →

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

Questions about HS 3004.20

What is HS code 300420?

HS code 300420 is a 6-digit subheading in the Harmonized System that covers: Medicaments; containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins or their derivatives), for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, packaged for retail sale. This HS code covers medicaments containing antibiotics (other than penicillins, streptomycins, or their derivatives) that are packaged for retail sale. This broad category includes a vast array of modern antibiotics, such as cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones, and tetracyclines, in various retail-ready forms like tablets, syrups, and injections. These medicines are crucial for combating a diverse range of bacterial infections and are traded extensively between pharmaceutical companies, wholesalers, and healthcare providers across the globe. Importers are typically national distributors, hospitals, and pharmacies, while exporters are major pharmaceutical manufacturers. The trade is heavily regulated to ensure quality, safety, and proper use, with ongoing global efforts to manage antimicrobial resistance. This category represents a significant portion of the global pharmaceutical market due to the widespread need for effective infection treatments.

What products fall under HS code 300420?

Azithromycin tablets, Ciprofloxacin tablets, Doxycycline capsules, Cephalexin capsules, Metronidazole tablets, Vancomycin injections, Clindamycin capsules, Levofloxacin tablets

What are common misclassifications for HS code 300420?

Often confused with 300410 if the specific antibiotic type is not carefully identified, or 300320 if the antibiotic medicament is not packaged for retail.

Which countries are the top exporters of goods under HS code 300420?

In 2025, the top exporters of HS code 300420 in UN Comtrade data were Italy ($2.0B, 14% of world exports), Switzerland ($1.5B) and the United States ($1.2B). World exports came to about $14.4B, 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 300420?

In 2025, the top importers of HS code 300420 in UN Comtrade data were the United States ($1.9B, 13% of world imports), China ($1.4B) and Switzerland ($1.3B). World imports came to about $15.4B, 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 300420 structured?

HS code 300420 is a 6-digit subheading under the Harmonized System. The first 2 digits (30) identify the chapter, digits 3-4 (04) 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 300420?

Brazil splits HS code 300420 into 26 NCM codes: 3004.20.11 (Chloramphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.19 (Other amphenicol medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.21 (Erythromycin medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.29 (Other macrolide medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.31 (Rifamycin SV sodium medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.32 (Rifampicin medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.39 (Other ansamycin medicaments, dosed/retail), 3004.20.41 (Lincomycin hydrochloride medicaments, dosed/retail), and more listed on this page. The first 6 digits of each match the HS code.