diff --git a/io_scene_fbx/__init__.py b/io_scene_fbx/__init__.py
index 9cfebeae6..7087f1f9a 100644
--- a/io_scene_fbx/__init__.py
+++ b/io_scene_fbx/__init__.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 bl_info = {
     "name": "FBX format",
     "author": "Campbell Barton, Bastien Montagne, Jens Restemeier, @Mysteryem",
-    "version": (5, 11, 2),
+    "version": (5, 11, 3),
     "blender": (4, 1, 0),
     "location": "File > Import-Export",
     "description": "FBX IO meshes, UVs, vertex colors, materials, textures, cameras, lamps and actions",
diff --git a/io_scene_fbx/parse_fbx.py b/io_scene_fbx/parse_fbx.py
index 539742ec2..1af5994e2 100644
--- a/io_scene_fbx/parse_fbx.py
+++ b/io_scene_fbx/parse_fbx.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import zlib
 from io import BytesIO
 
 from . import data_types
+from .fbx_utils_threading import MultiThreadedTaskConsumer
 
 # at the end of each nested block, there is a NUL record to indicate
 # that the sub-scope exists (i.e. to distinguish between P: and P : {})
@@ -59,16 +60,10 @@ def read_elem_start64(read):
     return end_offset, prop_count, elem_id
 
 
-def unpack_array(read, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap):
-    length, encoding, comp_len = read_array_params(read)
-
-    data = read(comp_len)
-
-    if encoding == 0:
-        pass
-    elif encoding == 1:
-        data = zlib.decompress(data)
-
+def _create_array(data, length, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap):
+    """Create an array from FBX data."""
+    # If size of the data does not match the expected size of the array, then something is wrong with the code or the
+    # FBX file.
     assert(length * array_stride == len(data))
 
     data_array = array.array(array_type, data)
@@ -77,6 +72,49 @@ def unpack_array(read, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap):
     return data_array
 
 
+def _decompress_and_insert_array(elem_props_data, index_to_set, compressed_array_args):
+    """Decompress array data and insert the created array into the FBX tree being parsed.
+
+    This is usually called from a separate thread to the main thread."""
+    compressed_data, length, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap = compressed_array_args
+
+    # zlib.decompress releases the Global Interpreter Lock, so another thread can run code while waiting for the
+    # decompression to complete.
+    data = zlib.decompress(compressed_data, bufsize=length * array_stride)
+
+    # Create and insert the array into the parsed FBX hierarchy.
+    elem_props_data[index_to_set] = _create_array(data, length, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap)
+
+
+def unpack_array(read, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap):
+    """Unpack an array from an FBX file being parsed.
+
+    If the array data is compressed, the compressed data is combined with the other arguments into a tuple to prepare
+    for decompressing on a separate thread if possible.
+
+    If the array data is not compressed, the array is created.
+
+    Returns (tuple, True) or (array, False)."""
+    length, encoding, comp_len = read_array_params(read)
+
+    data = read(comp_len)
+
+    if encoding == 1:
+        # Array data requires decompression, which is done in a separate thread if possible.
+        return (data, length, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap), True
+    else:
+        return _create_array(data, length, array_type, array_stride, array_byteswap), False
+
+
+read_array_dict = {
+    b'b'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_BOOL, 1, False),     # bool
+    b'c'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_BYTE, 1, False),     # ubyte
+    b'i'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_INT32, 4, True),     # int
+    b'l'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_INT64, 8, True),     # long
+    b'f'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_FLOAT32, 4, False),  # float
+    b'd'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_FLOAT64, 8, False),  # double
+}
+
 read_data_dict = {
     b'Z'[0]: lambda read: unpack(b'<b', read(1))[0],  # byte
     b'Y'[0]: lambda read: unpack(b'<h', read(2))[0],  # 16 bit int
@@ -88,12 +126,6 @@ read_data_dict = {
     b'L'[0]: lambda read: unpack(b'<q', read(8))[0],  # 64 bit int
     b'R'[0]: lambda read: read(read_uint(read)),      # binary data
     b'S'[0]: lambda read: read(read_uint(read)),      # string data
-    b'f'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_FLOAT32, 4, False),  # array (float)
-    b'i'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_INT32, 4, True),   # array (int)
-    b'd'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_FLOAT64, 8, False),  # array (double)
-    b'l'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_INT64, 8, True),   # array (long)
-    b'b'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_BOOL, 1, False),  # array (bool)
-    b'c'[0]: lambda read: unpack_array(read, data_types.ARRAY_BYTE, 1, False),  # array (ubyte)
     }
 
 
@@ -115,7 +147,7 @@ def init_version(fbx_version):
     _BLOCK_SENTINEL_DATA = (b'\0' * _BLOCK_SENTINEL_LENGTH)
 
 
-def read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, tell_file_offset=0):
+def read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, decompress_array_func, tell_file_offset=0):
     # [0] the offset at which this block ends
     # [1] the number of properties in the scope
     # [2] the length of the property list
@@ -133,7 +165,17 @@ def read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, tell_file_offset=0):
 
     for i in range(prop_count):
         data_type = read(1)[0]
-        elem_props_data[i] = read_data_dict[data_type](read)
+        if data_type in read_array_dict:
+            val, needs_decompression = read_array_dict[data_type](read)
+            if needs_decompression:
+                # Array decompression releases the GIL, so can be multithreaded (if possible on the current system) for
+                # performance.
+                # After decompressing, the array is inserted into elem_props_data[i].
+                decompress_array_func(elem_props_data, i, val)
+            else:
+                elem_props_data[i] = val
+        else:
+            elem_props_data[i] = read_data_dict[data_type](read)
         elem_props_type[i] = data_type
 
     pos = tell()
@@ -176,7 +218,7 @@ def read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, tell_file_offset=0):
 
         sub_pos = start_sub_pos
         while sub_pos < sub_tree_end:
-            elem_subtree.append(read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, tell_file_offset))
+            elem_subtree.append(read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, decompress_array_func, tell_file_offset))
             sub_pos = tell()
 
         # At the end of each subtree there should be a sentinel (an empty element with all bytes set to zero).
@@ -211,7 +253,8 @@ def parse_version(fn):
 def parse(fn, use_namedtuple=True):
     root_elems = []
 
-    with open(fn, 'rb') as f:
+    multithread_decompress_array_cm = MultiThreadedTaskConsumer.new_cpu_bound_cm(_decompress_and_insert_array)
+    with open(fn, 'rb') as f, multithread_decompress_array_cm as decompress_array_func:
         read = f.read
         tell = f.tell
 
@@ -222,7 +265,7 @@ def parse(fn, use_namedtuple=True):
         init_version(fbx_version)
 
         while True:
-            elem = read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple)
+            elem = read_elem(read, tell, use_namedtuple, decompress_array_func)
             if elem is None:
                 break
             root_elems.append(elem)