Glossary
Parallel import
The practice of importing genuine stock for resale outside the manufacturer's authorised distribution for that country.
A parallel import is genuine stock brought into a country outside the manufacturer’s own distribution arrangements, and resold there. The term describes the import route; grey market usually describes the goods that arrive by it, and in ordinary use the two are interchangeable.
Parallel importing is legal in many places, including Singapore and Malaysia, and it is a normal part of how consumer electronics reach Southeast Asia ahead of, or instead of, an official launch. The consequences for a buyer are the ones that attach to any unauthorised channel: local warranty cover is usually the first thing to go, and after-sales support rests with the importer rather than the brand.