Shipping mango: storage temperature, shelf life and ripening
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Short answer. Mango is shipped mature-green at 13 °C and 90–95 % relative humidity, and never below 10 °C. It keeps about 2–4 weeks in normal air and 3–6 weeks in controlled atmosphere. At destination it is ripened with 100 ppm ethylene for 12–24 hours at 20–22 °C and is ripe in 5–9 days.
Which settings apply?
| Item | Setting |
|---|---|
| Mature-green fruit | 13 °C |
| Partly ripe fruit | 10 °C |
| Relative humidity | 90–95 % |
| Lower limit | Not below 10 °C, because of chilling injury |
| Storage life in normal air | About 2–4 weeks; R2E2 about 2–3 weeks |
| Storage life in controlled atmosphere | 3–6 weeks at 3–5 % oxygen and 5–8 % carbon dioxide |
How is mango ripened at destination?
With 100 ppm ethylene for 12–24 hours at 20–22 °C and 90–95 % relative humidity. The fruit is ripe in 5–9 days.
How does the route fit the storage life?
| Route | Transit (indicative) |
|---|---|
| Sea, Cat Lai to Singapore | 2–3 days |
| Sea, Cat Lai to Port Klang | 3–5 days |
| Sea, Cat Lai to Busan | About 8 days |
| Air from Tan Son Nhat | 1–3 days, depending on the destination |
After vapor-heat treatment the fruit ripens faster. For that reason the full time from harvest to shelf is checked against the storage life before each sea route. Schedules are confirmed with the quotation.
How is harvest maturity set?
Fruit is picked mature-green: dry matter of at least 14 %, firm flesh and filled shoulders. It is measured on 10 fruit per lot and reported with the packing photos.
Frequently asked questions
Why not ship colder than 10 °C?
Mango suffers chilling injury below 10 °C.
How long does ripening take?
5–9 days after the ethylene treatment.
Does treated fruit keep as long?
No. Treated fruit ripens faster, so the route is planned around a shorter window.
Packing is in mango cartons and container loading, and harvest months in the mango season calendar. Full specifications are on the mango overview page and the Keo, elephant and R2E2 pages; to order, use the mango quotation form.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026 by VIET FARM EXPORT COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City. Figures come from our mango specifications; they are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.