U.S. imports of Ephedrines and Their Salts (SITC 54144) totaled $1.6M in August 2026, imported from 4 countries.
Ephedrines and Their Salts imports of $1.6M in August 2026 ran 53% above the year-to-date monthly average of $1.1M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataEphedrine, pseudoephedrine, and their salts are subject to overlapping DEA and FDA controls: as List I chemicals under the Controlled Substances Act, they are regulated precursors to methamphetamine, requiring DEA registration, import quotas, and transaction reporting. Simultaneously, they serve as legitimate APIs in bronchodilator and decongestant drug products regulated by FDA. The Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act imposes additional recordkeeping and threshold requirements on domestic distribution, making compliance documentation at the import stage especially important.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
14 import shipments a month
Unlike most APIs, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are DEA List I chemicals — meaning they are regulated as drug precursors in addition to being drug substances. Importers need both DEA importer registration and, for each shipment, advance notification or permit depending on quantity and form. Aggregate import quotas set by DEA limit total annual import volumes.
Documentation should include the DEA registration number of the importer, the identity of the US pharmaceutical manufacturer receiving the material, the intended drug product application, and certificates of analysis confirming identity and purity. Pre-import notification to DEA within the required timeframe is mandatory, and records must be maintained for the period specified under DEA regulations.
Basic heading 381 of 465 in section 5
Basic heading 54144 · $1.6M of $27.5B
Trade Directory
List your company and tag the 6-digit products you trade, so the companies trading them can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
Imports · August 2026
origin
Germany and India together supply 100% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
ImportsExports
Imports
$1.6MYoY · free account
Exports
$21KYoY · free account
Low of 11 reported months · imports
Low · free accountThrough August 2026 · imports 11 of 12 months reported, exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.