Ma Huang (麻黄, Ephedra sinica) is one of the most heavily-traded TCM raw materials globally. Pakistani wild-collected Ephedra is favored by Chinese TCM raw-material houses for high alkaloid consistency, large container-load supply, and clean grading. This guide is for Chinese TCM extract producers, prescription-formula houses, and herbal-pharma raw-material buyers sourcing direct from Pakistan.
1. Why Chinese TCM houses source Pakistani Ma Huang
- Alkaloid consistency: Pakistani harvest tests 0.7–1.4% total alkaloids (ephedrine + pseudoephedrine) — meets Chinese Pharmacopoeia TCM-grade
- Volume reliability: Container-load supply year-round, unlike smaller-volume origins
- Multiple grades: Thin-stem (細莖), thick-stem (粗莖), white-bg cleaned (白底), standard raw (毛茶)
- Documentation: 3rd-party lab COA from SGS or Bureau Veritas equivalent on every shipment
2. Current FOB Karachi price bands (April 2026)
3. Alkaloid specs & lab COA
Every shipment tests at a 3rd-party lab (typically SGS Pakistan or Bureau Veritas) using HPLC. Standard report includes:
- Total alkaloid content (ephedrine + pseudoephedrine, by HPLC)
- Moisture (≤ 8%)
- Foreign matter (≤ 2% standard, ≤ 0.5% premium)
- Stem-to-leaf ratio
- Microbial spec (TPC, yeast/mold, E. coli, Salmonella)
- Heavy metals (Pb, As, Hg, Cd)
4. China customs & import documentation
Ma Huang enters China under HS code 1211.90. Important: China classifies Ma Huang as a controlled TCM raw material — your import requires a CFDA-issued Import License for raw drug materials. We provide:
- Commercial Invoice with full CIF + FOB breakdown
- Phytosanitary Certificate (Pakistan Plant Protection)
- Certificate of Origin
- 3rd-party lab COA (SGS/BV)
- Manufacturer-of-origin declaration
- HS code 1211.90 customs classification
5. MOQ, packaging & lead time
Standard MOQ 1 × 20ft FCL ≈ 18 MT. Packaging: 25 kg cartons with food-grade liner for premium grades, 25/50 kg PP-woven food-grade bags for standard. Lead time: 7–14 days from PI confirmation to FOB Karachi for stock SKUs. Karachi-Shanghai transit ≈18 days. Total order-to-Shanghai ≈ 25–30 days.
Need a current quote?
WhatsApp our export team — quote within 24 hours with PI, lab COA, and shipping options.
FAQ — Buyer Questions
Detail: Wild-collected Ephedra sinica from Pakistan tests at this range, meeting Chinese Pharmacopoeia TCM-grade. Pharma-grade contracts can specify minimum alkaloid percentage.