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Jebel Ali · 13–18 days at sea (indicative, via transhipment) · Documents ready, Certificate of Origin on the CEPA form · 13 kg carton is the market standard · most buyers take CFR/CIF.
Dammam 16–20 days · Jeddah 18–22 days at sea (indicative) · CFR Dammam quoted on request · original documents released after full payment.
Supermarkets often ask for HACCP or GlobalG.A.P.; we confirm the current requirement with the authority before each first shipment. indicative
Documents for Japan are on request: we confirm the current requirement with the authority before the first shipment.
Documents for South Korea are on request: we confirm the current requirement with the authority before the first shipment.
Every lot carries a registered growing-area code (PUC) and packing-house code (PHC). Destination port and transit time are confirmed with the quotation.
South Korea, Japan and the EU on request · Busan and Tokyo about 8 days at sea (indicative).
Fresh Cavendish Banana Vietnam
Tissue-culture Cavendish (Grand Nain, Williams), shipped all green in 13 kg ventilated cartons from Cat Lai Port, Ho Chi Minh City. Plan your container with the table below; the final specification is confirmed on the quotation.
| Variety | Grand Nain, Williams (Musa acuminata AAA) |
|---|---|
| Carton | 13 kg net / 14 kg gross · 5-ply ventilated |
| Inside carton | 4/5/6 hands · perforated PE bag |
| Loading 40'RF, loose | 1,540 cartons = 20,020 kg net |
| Loading 40'RF, palletised | 20 pallets × 48 = 960 cartons |
| Carton size · CBM | Published after supplier confirmation — ask us for a freight estimate |
| Reefer setting | 13–14 °C · RH 90–95 % |
| Other cartons | 13.5 kg · 7 kg · 3 kg on request |
Container quantities are planning references, not a minimum order. No minimum — samples from one carton.
Cavendish Banana: grades
Final specification is confirmed on each quotation. Full standards are under Technical details.
Premium
INDICATIVESupermarket programmes
- Length ≥ 20 cm
- Diameter 39–46 mm
- Defects ≤ 2 cm², no scars
- GlobalG.A.P. required
Grade A
MOST REQUESTEDMiddle East & Malaysia wholesale
- Length ≥ 18 cm
- Diameter 36–46 mm
- Defects ≤ 4 cm²
- 4/5/6 hands per carton
Grade B
INDICATIVEWholesale markets
- Length ≥ 14 cm
- Diameter 30–36 mm
- Defects ≤ 8 cm², dry scars
- No certificate required
Cavendish Banana: container planning
Typical lots are one container and its multiples (3,080 · 4,620 · 6,160 cartons). No minimum order — samples from one carton; best pricing from one 40'RF.
Cold chain
Handling notes
- Never below 13 °C — chilling injury
- Pulp pre-cooled to 13–14 °C before stuffing
- Over 20 days at sea: CA container recommended
- Ripening sheet with every first shipment
Season calendar
Harvested year-round · indicative, confirmed with each quotation
- JanPeak
- FebPeak
- MarPeak
- AprPeak
- MayAvailable
- JunLimited
- JulLimited
- AugLimited
- SepAvailable
- OctPeak
- NovPeak
- DecPeak
Sea transit from Cat Lai indicative
Vessel schedule is confirmed with the quotation.
Documents with every lot
- Commercial Invoice · Packing List · B/L
- Phytosanitary Certificate
- Certificate of Origin (CEPA form for the UAE)
- Reefer setting record · quality file per lot
Cavendish Banana: technical details
For your QC, import and logistics teams. Open a section to read the full specification.
Product identity
- Trade nameFresh Cavendish Banana Vietnam — Premium, Grade A or Grade B · 13 kg, 13.5 kg or 7 kg carton
- Botanical nameMusa acuminata, Cavendish group (AAA)
- HS code, Vietnam0803.90.20 — Cavendish banana (Musa acuminata)
- HS6, international080390 — bananas, fresh or dried, other than plantains
Variety, growing areas and season
- VarietyTissue-culture Cavendish: Grand Nain (main clone in southern Vietnam) and Williams.
- Growing areasSouth-East Vietnam: Dong Nai (Trang Bom, Thong Nhat, Xuan Loc, Dinh Quan — about 21,000 ha, ~80% exported), Tay Ninh, Binh Duong. Central Highlands: Gia Lai (Dak Doa), Dak Lak. Also Long An and Tien Giang.
- SeasonHarvested year-round. Main season September to May, peak after Lunar New Year (February–April); June–August supply is tighter.
- TraceabilityEvery lot carries a registered growing-area code (PUC) and packing-house code (PHC).
Grades and specification
| Grade | Finger length | Diameter | Skin defects | Certification | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium (indicative) | ≥ 20 cm | 39–46 mm | ≤ 2 cm² per finger, no scars | GlobalG.A.P. required | Supermarkets: UAE, Korea, EU |
| Grade A | ≥ 18 cm | 36–46 mm | ≤ 4 cm² per finger | GlobalG.A.P. where the farm holds it | Wholesalers: Middle East, Malaysia |
| Grade B (indicative) | ≥ 14 cm | 30–36 mm | ≤ 8 cm², dry scars | Not required | Wholesale markets |
- Minimum standardCodex CXS 205-1997: finger length ≥ 14 cm, diameter ≥ 27 mm; hands or clusters of at least 4 fingers; tolerance 5% (Extra) / 10% (Class I, II). EU 1333/2011 also requires green, unripe fruit.
- Ripeness at shippingColour stage 1 (all green, Von Loesecke scale). Harvest stage 1 for voyages over 14 days (Middle East, EU); stage 2 for 14 days or less (Malaysia, China).
- Sweetness18–22 °Brix when ripe (colour stage 6–7); 2–5 °Brix at shipping, because green fruit is still starch.indicative
Packing and labelling
- Standard carton13 kg net / 14 kg gross, 5-ply ventilated carton — the market-standard carton for Vietnam → UAE. Variants on request: 13.5 kg (Korea, Japan), 7 kg, 3 kg premium pack for supermarkets.
- Inside the cartonWhole hands, 4/5/6 hands per carton ('size 4-5-6'), or clusters of 4–8 fingers on request; crowns outward.
- LinerPerforated polyethylene bag as standard; modified-atmosphere bag (Banavac type) for long voyages at extra cost — not used in CA containers.
- Per 40' reeferLoose-loaded: 1,540 cartons = 20,020 kg net. Palletised: 20 pallets × 48 cartons = 960 cartons.
- Carton labelEnglish: product name, grade, net/gross weight, 'Product of Vietnam', lot code, packing date and a QR code to this page; 'Packed by' with the packing-house code. Arabic sticker on request (UAE, Saudi Arabia).
- Private labelFrom one 40'RF container. Send your artwork with the quote request; it is needed 10 days before packing.
Cold chain and transit
| From Cat Lai to | Days at sea (indicative) | Routing |
|---|---|---|
| Jebel Ali, UAE | 13–18 | Via transhipment; routing and schedule confirmed with the quotation |
| Dammam, Saudi Arabia | 16–20 | Confirmed with the quotation |
| Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | 18–22 | Confirmed with the quotation |
| Port Klang, Malaysia | 3–5 | Direct; harvest stage 2 possible |
| Singapore | 2–3 | Direct, several sailings per week |
| Busan, South Korea | 8 | Confirmed with the quotation |
| Tokyo, Japan | 8 | Confirmed with the quotation |
- Reefer set point13–14 °C (13.5–14 °C in practice). Below 13 °C bananas suffer chilling injury, so the set point is never lower.
- Humidity and airRH 90–95%, fresh air 10–60 m³/h (usually 25–40), dehumidification OFF, ethylene below 1 ppm in the cold room.
- Pre-coolingWithin 10–12 hours after cutting; pulp brought to 13–14 °C before stuffing; fruit never waits overnight for a container.
- Green-life2–4 weeks at 14 °C in a normal reefer; 4–6 weeks in a controlled-atmosphere (CA) container. For routes over 20 days we recommend CA.
- Lead timeAbout 10–14 days from deposit to vessel departure, subject to vessel schedule and farm availability.indicative
- Ripening guidance100–150 ppm ethylene for 24–48 h at 15–20 °C, RH 90–95%, CO₂ below 1%; colour stage 6–7 in 4–8 days. A ripening sheet comes with every first shipment.
Transit days are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.
Certificates and documents
- Documents we provideCommercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Phytosanitary Certificate issued by Vietnam's Plant Protection Department, Certificate of Origin, reefer setting record.
- UAE and Saudi ArabiaPhytosanitary certificate + C/O; English label (Arabic sticker recommended); residues within UAE/Codex → EU limits, 0.01 ppm default. Saudi Arabia: SFDA random carton weighing and MEWA lot permit handled by the importer.
- UAE import duty0% for bananas (HS 0803, GCC common tariff). Halal certificate not required for fresh fruit.
- MalaysiaPhytosanitary certificate plus the importer's import permit (DOA/MAQIS); supermarkets often ask for HACCP or GlobalG.A.P. We confirm the current requirement with the authority.indicative
- CertificationsGlobalG.A.P. available from selected farms (confirmed per order), VietGAP, ISO 22000 at some packing houses, registered growing-area and packing-house codes.indicative
Commercial terms
- Minimum orderNo minimum — samples from one carton; best pricing from one 40'RF (1,540 cartons).
- IncotermsFOB Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City) as standard; CFR/CIF to your port on request — both can appear on the same quotation.
- Price unitUSD per 13 kg carton, USD/kg alongside. Prices are given in the quotation only.
- Payment, first orders50% T/T deposit on Proforma Invoice confirmation; 50% against scanned shipping documents, before release of the original B/L or telex release. L/C at sight for regular buyers. No D/P, no open account.
- QuotationWithin 24 business hours by email and WhatsApp, with an RFQ reference; valid 7 days.
- Conversion1 × 40'RF = 1,540 cartons = 20.0 t net.
Cavendish Banana: what we need to quote
Send these 7 points and you receive a quotation by email and WhatsApp within 24 business hours, valid 7 days.
- Product
- Grade (Premium / A / B)
- Carton weight
- Containers, cartons or tonnes
- Destination port
- Incoterm (FOB / CFR / CIF)
- Preferred shipping week
Cavendish Banana: buyer questions
Which banana variety do you export?
Tissue-culture Cavendish. Grand Nain is the main clone in southern Vietnam; Williams is also grown.
Where are the bananas grown?
South-East Vietnam — Dong Nai province (about 21,000 ha, ~80% exported), Tay Ninh, Binh Duong — and the Central Highlands (Gia Lai, Dak Lak), plus Long An and Tien Giang. Every lot carries a registered growing-area code (PUC) and packing-house code (PHC).
When are bananas available?
Year-round. Main season September to May, peak after Lunar New Year (February–April); June–August supply is tighter and prices higher.
What grades do you offer?
Three grades: Premium, Grade A and Grade B.
What is the Grade A specification?
Finger length ≥ 18 cm, diameter 36–46 mm, skin defects ≤ 4 cm² per finger; 4/5/6 hands per carton. GlobalG.A.P. where the farm holds it. Typical buyers: wholesalers in the Middle East and Malaysia.
What is the Premium specification?
indicativeLength ≥ 20 cm, diameter 39–46 mm, skin defects ≤ 2 cm² per finger, no scars, GlobalG.A.P. required. For supermarket programmes; final spec confirmed per order.
What minimum size standard do you follow?
Codex CXS 205-1997: minimum finger length 14 cm, diameter 27 mm, hands/clusters of at least 4 fingers; tolerance 5% (Extra) / 10% (Class I, II). EU 1333/2011 additionally requires green, unripe fruit.
How ripe are the bananas when shipped?
All green — colour stage 1 on the Von Loesecke scale. Harvest maturity is chosen by voyage length: stage 1 for voyages over 14 days (Middle East, EU), stage 2 for ≤ 14 days (Malaysia, China).
What is the sweetness (Brix)?
indicative18–22 °Brix when fully ripe (colour stage 6–7). At shipping (green) only 2–5 °Brix because the fruit is still starch — this is normal for export bananas.
What is the standard carton?
13 kg net / 14 kg gross, 5-ply ventilated carton — the market-standard carton for Vietnamese bananas to the UAE. Variants on request: 13.5 kg (Korea/Japan), 7 kg, 3 kg premium pack.
How is the fruit packed inside the carton?
Whole hands, 4/5/6 hands per carton ('size 4-5-6'), or clusters of 4–8 fingers on request, crowns outward, in a perforated polyethylene bag. Modified-atmosphere bags (Banavac type) available for long voyages at extra cost.
How many cartons fit in a 40' reefer?
Loose-loaded: 1,540 cartons × 13 kg = 20,020 kg net — the standard lot for Vietnam–UAE banana shipments (multiples 3,080 / 4,620 / 6,160). Palletised: 20 pallets × 48 cartons = 960 cartons.
What is printed on the carton label?
English label: product name, grade, net/gross weight, 'Product of Vietnam', lot code, packing date and a QR code to the product page; 'Packed by' with the packing-house code. Arabic sticker on request for UAE/Saudi buyers.
Can you pack under our private label?
Yes, from one 40'RF container. Send your artwork by email or WhatsApp; it is needed 10 days before packing.
What reefer temperature do you set?
13–14 °C set point (13.5–14 °C in practice). Below 13 °C bananas suffer chilling injury, so the container is pre-cooled and never set lower.
Humidity and ventilation settings?
Relative humidity 90–95%, fresh-air exchange 10–60 m³/h (we usually set 25–40), dehumidification OFF, ethylene kept below 1 ppm in the cold room.
What is the green-life / shelf life?
2–4 weeks at 14 °C in a normal reefer; 4–6 weeks in a controlled-atmosphere container (2–5% O₂, 2–5% CO₂). For routes over 20 days we recommend CA.
How is the fruit pre-cooled?
Pre-cooled within 10–12 hours after cutting; pulp temperature brought to 13–14 °C before stuffing; fruit is never left waiting for a container overnight.
How long is the sea transit from Ho Chi Minh City?
indicativeSubject to carrier schedule: Jebel Ali 13–18 days, Dammam 16–20, Jeddah 18–22, Port Klang 3–5, Singapore 2–3, Busan 8, Tokyo 8. Exact schedule is confirmed with the quotation.
What is the lead time after order confirmation?
indicativeAbout 10–14 days from order confirmation (deposit received) to vessel departure, subject to vessel schedule and farm availability.
Do you provide ripening instructions?
Yes: 100–150 ppm ethylene for 24–48 hours at 15–20 °C, RH 90–95%, CO₂ below 1%; fruit reaches colour stage 6–7 in 4–8 days depending on temperature. A ripening sheet is included with every first shipment.
Which documents do you provide for the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Phytosanitary Certificate issued by Vietnam's Plant Protection Department, Certificate of Origin (CEPA form for the UAE), reefer setting record; English label with Arabic sticker on request. Residues kept within Codex/EU MRLs (0.01 ppm default where applicable). Saudi: SFDA random carton weighing and MEWA lot permit handled by the importer.
Which documents for Malaysia?
indicativePhytosanitary Certificate plus the importer's import permit (DOA/MAQIS); supermarkets often ask for HACCP or GlobalG.A.P. We confirm the current requirement with the authority before each first shipment.
Which certifications can you provide?
indicativeGlobalG.A.P. available from selected farms (confirmed per order), VietGAP, registered growing-area and packing-house codes. Certificates are listed in the product's Certificates section, never in the product name.
What is your minimum order?
No minimum — samples from one carton. Best pricing from one 40'RF container (1,540 cartons).
Which Incoterms do you quote?
FOB Cat Lai (Ho Chi Minh City) as standard; CFR/CIF to your port on request — most Middle East buyers take CFR/CIF, so both appear on the same quotation. Prices in USD per 13 kg carton (USD/kg shown alongside).
What are your payment terms?
First orders: 50% T/T deposit on Proforma Invoice confirmation, 50% against scanned shipping documents before release of the original B/L or telex release. Irrevocable L/C at sight accepted for regular buyers. No D/P, no open account.
How fast will I get a quotation?
Within 24 business hours. You receive the quotation by email and WhatsApp with an RFQ reference number; quotations are valid 7 days.
How do I claim if quality is not as agreed?
indicativeInspect on arrival; notify in writing within 48 hours after container opening with photos, the reefer temperature log and, where needed, an independent surveyor report. Each lot ships with its own quality file (pulp temperature photos, finger-size record, seal numbers, container setting printout, data logger).
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Quotation within 24 business hours
Tell us 7 things: product, grade, carton weight, quantity, destination port, Incoterm and shipping week. You receive an RFQ reference number.