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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. All Vietnamese fruit for the UAE →
Dammam or Jeddah about 3–4 weeks at sea, via transhipment (indicative) · CFR Dammam quoted on request · original documents released after full payment. All Vietnamese fruit for the Gulf →
CFR/CIF Port Klang quoted on request. Supermarket buyers often ask for HACCP or GlobalG.A.P. certificates. All Vietnamese fruit for Malaysia → indicative
CFR/CIF Singapore quoted on request. All Vietnamese fruit for Singapore → indicative
Documents for Japan are on request: we confirm the current requirement with the authority before the first shipment. All Vietnamese fruit for Japan →
Documents for South Korea are on request: we confirm the current requirement with the authority before the first shipment. All Vietnamese fruit for Korea →
Every lot carries a registered growing-area code (PUC) and packing-house code (PHC). Destination port and transit time are confirmed with the quotation. All Vietnamese fruit for China →
CFR/CIF Saint Petersburg quoted on request. 100 % T/T in advance. All Vietnamese fruit for Russia → indicative
CFR/CIF Hong Kong quoted on request. All Vietnamese fruit for Hong Kong → indicative
CFR/CIF Felixstowe or London Gateway quoted on request. All Vietnamese fruit for the United Kingdom → indicative
Fresh bananas from Vietnam are not on our Thailand list. All Vietnamese fruit for Thailand → indicative
Fresh banana imports into Australia are not permitted at present. All Vietnamese fruit for Australia → indicative
Fresh bananas from Vietnam are not authorised for the United States at present. All Vietnamese fruit for the United States → indicative
CFR/CIF Sohar or Salalah quoted on request. All Vietnamese fruit for the Gulf → indicative
Main destinations we document: China, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, UAE, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Hong Kong and the UK. Fresh bananas from Vietnam are not yet authorised for Australia or the USA, and are not on our Thailand list. Other destinations 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: shipment 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
Transit time from Vietnam indicative
Sailing or flight 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
- 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
- CertificationsOur fruit comes from export-registered orchards (PUC) and packing houses (PHC); a phytosanitary certificate is issued for every lot; any post-harvest treatment the destination requires (vapour heat, irradiation or cold treatment) is arranged per lot at facilities approved by that country. VFE does not hold GlobalG.A.P. or organic certification — we say so up front. Every lot is checked at packing (class, size, maturity, no rot) and photographed before shipment.
- Documents we provideCommercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill (air), Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Plant Protection Department of Vietnam (with the treatment details the destination requires), Certificate of Origin in the FTA form for your country, pesticide residue test report where the destination requires it, and the reefer temperature record for sea lots. Import permit, product registration and customs clearance at destination are the buyer's responsibility.
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 your port on request — both can appear on the same quotation. Air lots (FCA Tan Son Nhat SGN, CPT/CIP your airport) on request.
- Price unitUSD per 13 kg carton, USD/kg alongside. Prices are given in the quotation only.
- Payment — sea, first orders50 % by T/T as deposit within 3 working days after the Proforma Invoice is confirmed; 50 % against scanned shipping documents before release of the original B/L or telex release.
- Payment — Russia / EAEU and trial lotsRussia/EAEU and all trial lots: 100 % by T/T before shipment. Irrevocable L/C at sight accepted for regular buyers. No D/P, no open account.
- QuotationReply within 1 business day; firm quotation within 2 business days once size and quantity are confirmed. Valid 7 days, with an RFQ reference, by email and WhatsApp.
- UAE buyersCFR/CIF Jebel Ali quoted on request; CPT/CIP DXB for air lots.
- Conversion1 × 40'RF = 1,540 cartons = 20.0 t net.
Cavendish Banana: what we need to quote
Send these 7 points. We reply within 1 business day and send a firm quotation within 2 business days, valid 7 days, by email and WhatsApp.
- 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 and specifications do you offer?
indicativeThree grades. Premium: finger length ≥ 20 cm, diameter 39–46 mm, skin defects ≤ 2 cm² per finger, no scars, GlobalG.A.P. required (supermarket programmes). Grade A: ≥ 18 cm, 36–46 mm, defects ≤ 4 cm², 4/5/6 hands per carton, GlobalG.A.P. where the farm holds it (wholesalers in the Middle East and Malaysia). Grade B: ≥ 14 cm, 30–36 mm, dry scars ≤ 8 cm² (wholesale markets). Minimum standard Codex CXS 205-1997 (finger ≥ 14 cm, diameter ≥ 27 mm, hands/clusters of at least 4 fingers; tolerance 5 % Extra / 10 % Class I–II); EU 1333/2011 also requires green, unripe fruit. Certifications: GlobalG.A.P. from selected farms (confirmed per order), VietGAP, registered growing-area and packing-house codes. Final spec confirmed per order.
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 and how is the fruit packed?
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. Inside: 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) 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 on the carton label, and can you pack under our private 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. Private label: yes, from one 40'RF container — send your artwork by email or WhatsApp at least 10 days before packing.
What reefer settings do you use, and how is the fruit pre-cooled?
Set point 13–14 °C (13.5–14 °C in practice) — below 13 °C bananas suffer chilling injury, so the container is pre-cooled and never set lower. Relative humidity 90–95 %, fresh-air exchange 10–60 m³/h (we usually set 25–40), dehumidification OFF, ethylene below 1 ppm in the cold room. Fruit is pre-cooled within 10–12 hours after cutting, pulp brought to 13–14 °C before stuffing, and never left waiting for a container overnight.
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 long is the sea transit, and what is the lead time after order confirmation?
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 confirmed with the quotation. Lead time about 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.
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 your port on request — both can appear on the same quotation. Air lots: FCA Tan Son Nhat (SGN), CPT/CIP your airport, on request.
What are your payment terms?
First orders: 50 % T/T deposit on the Proforma Invoice, 50 % against scanned shipping documents before release of the original B/L or telex release. Russia/EAEU and trial lots: 100 % before shipment. Irrevocable L/C at sight for regular buyers. No D/P, no open account.
How fast will I get a quotation?
We reply within 1 business day and send a firm quotation within 2 business days once size and quantity are confirmed. Quotations are valid 7 days and carry an RFQ reference.
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).
20 of 20 questions shown
Reply within 1 business day, firm quotation within 2
Tell us 7 things: product, grade, carton weight, quantity, destination port, Incoterm and shipping week. You receive an RFQ reference number.