Shipping rambutan from Vietnam: air cartons, storage life and loading
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Short answer. Rambutan keeps only 12–14 days at 10–12 °C, so it usually flies: 1 kg or 5.5 kg cartons, pre-cooled and shipped within 24 hours of harvest, about 160–180 cartons of 5.5 kg on a main-deck air pallet. By road or sea, mainly for China, it goes in 5 kg cartons, about 3,600–4,000 per 40' reefer.
How is rambutan packed?
| Route | Carton | Load (indicative) |
|---|---|---|
| Air | 1 kg or 5.5 kg | About 160–180 cartons of 5.5 kg per main-deck air pallet |
| Road or sea, mainly for China | 5 kg | About 180–200 cartons per pallet; 3,600–4,000 per 40' reefer on 20 pallets, about 18–20 t |
Air pallets are built by the ground handler at Tan Son Nhat airport, and the forwarder confirms the chargeable weight. Sea pallets are ISPM 15 wood. The exact count is confirmed with the packing house in the quotation.
Which settings apply?
| Item | Setting |
|---|---|
| Set point | 10–12 °C, by variety |
| Relative humidity | 90–95 % |
| Storage life | 12–14 days |
| Controlled atmosphere | 3–5 % oxygen and 7–12 % carbon dioxide keep the red colour for about 4 weeks |
High humidity protects the fruit from water loss and from darkening of the peel.
Why does rambutan usually go by air?
Because the storage life is short. Fruit is pre-cooled and flown within 24 hours of harvest, so most of its 12–14 days are left for sale.
Does rambutan need ripening at destination?
No. It is harvested ripe and needs no ethylene.
Frequently asked questions
Which carton sizes are available?
1 kg and 5.5 kg by air; 5 kg by road or sea.
Can rambutan go by sea?
On short routes, mainly to China, at 10–12 °C. Controlled atmosphere extends colour life to about 4 weeks.
How is the price quoted?
In the quotation only, for your carton and route.
Season, sizes and classes are in Vietnamese rambutan: varieties, season, size codes and classes. Full specifications are on the rambutan page; to order, use the rambutan quotation form.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026 by VIET FARM EXPORT COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City. Figures come from our rambutan specification; they are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.