Product classification
HS code for Bulk ephedrine medicaments: 3003.41
Medicaments, containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale).
Classification of bulk ephedrine medicaments under HS 3003.41
Bulk ephedrine medicaments are classified under HS code 300341. This code specifically covers medicaments containing alkaloids or their derivatives, where ephedrine or its salts are the active ingredients, intended for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, and not packaged for retail sale. The key elements for this classification are the presence of ephedrine or its salts as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), the product's formulation as a medicament (not a pure chemical substance), its intended medical purpose, and its bulk form, meaning it is not prepared in dosages or packaging suitable for direct sale to consumers.
- Covers
- Ephedrine sulfate solutions for injection, supplied in multi-dose vials for hospital use.
- Ephedrine hydrochloride powder for compounding pharmacies or pharmaceutical manufacturers.
- Oral ephedrine formulations in bulk, prior to unit-dosing and retail packaging.
- Bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of ephedrine salts when formulated as a basic medicament.
- Also under 3003.41
- Sigma-Aldrich Ephedrine HCl
- BASF Ephedrine Sulfate
- Sanofi API Ephedrine
- Merck KGaA Ephedrine
- Johnson Matthey Ephedrine
Codes often confused with 3003.41
Common mistake. Misclassification often occurs by confusing bulk medicaments with retail-packaged versions or pure chemical substances. HS code 300441 is for medicaments containing ephedrine or its salts that are put up for retail sale, a direct contrast to 300341 based on packaging. Furthermore, pure ephedrine or its salts, not formulated as a medicament, would fall under Chapter 29, specifically 293941 for ephedrine and its salts. The distinction lies in whether the substance is a raw chemical or a prepared pharmaceutical product for medical use.
Top exporters and importers of HS 300341 (the code used for bulk ephedrine medicaments), 2025
In 2025, the largest exporter of HS 300341 (the code used for bulk ephedrine medicaments) 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.
Figures cover everything classified under HS 300341, not only bulk ephedrine medicaments.
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 bulk ephedrine medicaments
Brazil classifies bulk ephedrine medicaments under NCM 3003.41.00: HS 3003.41 with 00 added.
Source: Siscomex NCM table, updated Oct 2026. The Portuguese text on each NCM page is the official one.
Questions about bulk ephedrine medicaments
What is the HS code for Bulk ephedrine medicaments?
The HS code for Bulk ephedrine medicaments is 300341 (Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale)). The HS code for bulk ephedrine medicaments, containing ephedrine or its salts for therapeutic or prophylactic uses and not packaged for retail sale, is 300341.
How do I classify Bulk ephedrine medicaments for customs?
Bulk ephedrine medicaments is classified under HS code 300341 — Medicaments; containing alkaloids or their derivatives, containing ephedrine or its salts, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, (not packaged for retail sale). This is a 6-digit subheading level code.
What distinguishes a medicament from a pure chemical substance in HS classification?
In HS classification, a medicament (Chapter 30) is a prepared substance or mixture of substances for therapeutic or prophylactic use, often containing excipients and formulated for specific administration. A pure chemical substance (Chapter 29) is the isolated chemical compound itself, without further formulation as a pharmaceutical product.
Which countries are the top exporters of bulk ephedrine medicaments (HS 300341)?
In 2025, the top exporters of HS 300341 (the code used for bulk ephedrine medicaments) 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 bulk ephedrine medicaments (HS 300341)?
In 2025, the top importers of HS 300341 (the code used for bulk ephedrine medicaments) 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.
Is the HS code for Bulk ephedrine medicaments the same in all countries?
The base HS code 300341 for Bulk ephedrine medicaments is internationally standardized for the first 6 digits across 200+ countries. Individual countries may add additional digits for national tariff lines and specific classifications.
What is the NCM code for bulk ephedrine medicaments in Brazil?
In Brazil, bulk ephedrine medicaments (HS 300341) is classified under NCM 3003.41.00.