GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 22, 2026

Parallel import

A trader purchases genuine branded goods where they are priced lower and imports them into another market without the brand owner's authorisation – this is parallel import.

Quick Answer

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_import

Category

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Reading time

1 min

Words

129

Mentioned in

–

Definition & Explanation

A trader purchases genuine branded goods where they are priced lower and imports them into another market without the brand owner's authorisation – this is parallel import. The products are authentic and lawfully manufactured; the dispute arises not from any lack of genuineness but from the brand owner's inability to enforce regional pricing. For freight forwarders and customs authorities, the distinction from counterfeits is fundamental: parallel imports clear customs without difficulty provided origin documents and commercial paperwork are complete. Within the EU and EEA, the principle of trademark exhaustion applies: once the rights holder has placed the goods on the market there, onward distribution within that territory cannot be blocked. In third countries operating under national exhaustion, brand owners retain the right to take legal action against such imports.

Next steps

Tools that match this term

Find HS codeDetermine the tariff number for customsOpen Calculate customs valueWork out import duties and customs valueOpen Compare IncotermsClarify duties, cost and riskOpen Calculate transit timeEstimate duration per transport modeOpen

Related Terms

You might also be interested in these terms

Parallel operation of e-dec

Parallel operation of e-dec is the transition phase in which Switzerland's former customs declaration system e-dec runs simultaneo…

Learn more

Grey import

Grey import – also known as parallel import – occurs when genuine branded goods are purchased in one market and brought into anoth…

Learn more

e-dec Import Deactivation

Freight forwarders and importers relying on e-dec for electronic import declaration filing faced a mandatory system change: the e-…

Learn more

Import handling process

Logistics specialists and customs experts know the import handling process as a sequence of clearly defined steps: contract and sh…

Learn more

Official import control

Unlike export controls, official import controls operate at the point of entry into the customs territory. Customs authorities ver…

Learn more

Import-Export Business Logistics

The purpose of import-export business logistics is to move goods across borders without disruption – coordinating freight booking,…

Learn more

⚖️ ICC Incoterms 2020

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Analyze all 11 Incoterms 2020: cost matrix, risk timeline, insurance gap detector and customs responsibility – free, no login required.

Incoterms Simulator →

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Weekly: Top news, industry facts and insights from the world of logistics – free.

Parallel import

Next steps

Related Terms

Parallel operation of e-dec

Grey import

e-dec Import Deactivation

Import handling process

Official import control

Import-Export Business Logistics

Incoterms 2020 Simulator: Who bears costs & risk?

Logistics knowledge straight to your inbox

Community Questions & Answers