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Parallel import | Freight-Academy™

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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

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…

Last updated: 22 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

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

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Parallel import

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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.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Parallel import (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/parallel-import), accessed 2026-09-27
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Parallel import. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/parallel-import
BibTeX: @misc{parallelimport2025, title = {Parallel import}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/parallel-import}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-27} }

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