SITCSection 5

Ephedrines and Their Salts

Name: Ephedrines and Their Salts (SITC 54144) -- U.S. Import Data
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/about/policies/open-gov/open-data.html

SITC 54144Basic heading5-digit

U.S. imports · July 2026: $827K; YTD $6.8M

U.S. exports · July 2026: $12K

Balance · July 2026: Sign in free to see the trade balance

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Balance · July 2026: Loading the trade balance

U.S. imports of ephedrines and their salts (SITC 54144) totaled $827K in July 2026, traded with 4 countries.

Ephedrines and Their Salts imports of $827K in July 2026 ran 15% below the year-to-date monthly average of $973K.

Last updated: July 2026 data

Ephedrine, 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.

17 shipments/mo

12-month trend

ImportsExports

Imports

$827KYoY · Pro

Exports

$12KYoY · Pro

12-mo low · imports

YoY · Pro

$3.4M$0

May 2025November 2025July 2026

Through July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

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Basic heading 403 of 465 in section 5

Share of section 5 imports0.0029%

Basic heading 54144 · $827K of $28.9B

Where it comes from, where it lands, what it pays

Imports · July 2026

Countries

origin

India and Germany together supply 99% of it.

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Districts

customs district

Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.

States

destination

Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.

Ports

entry

Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes ephedrine and pseudoephedrine imports more complex than other pharmaceutical APIs?

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.

How should an importer document the legitimate pharmaceutical end use of ephedrine salts to avoid regulatory delays?

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.