Mango cartons, baskets and container loading from Vietnam
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Short answer. Vietnamese mango ships in 5 kg cartons by air, with 4 kg and 4.5 kg cartons on some routes, and in 18 kg baskets or cartons by sea. A 40' reefer takes about 1,350–1,400 baskets loose-loaded, around 24–25 t, or about 3,000–3,400 cartons of 5 kg on pallets. Air lots start at 200 cartons.
Which packs are used?
| Pack | Net and gross weight | Per pallet | Per 40' reefer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg carton | 5 kg net, about 5.6 kg gross; about 40 × 30 × 11 cm | 150–170 | About 3,000–3,400, palletised |
| 4.5 kg carton (Keo, air) | 4.5 kg net, about 5.1 kg gross | 150–170 | Air route |
| 18 kg plastic basket or carton | 18 kg net, about 20 kg gross | 50–60 | 1,350–1,400, loose-loaded, about 24–25 t |
Cartons are ventilated corrugated board. Fruit sits in foam-net sleeves, one size per carton, packed 2–3 % over the net weight. Pallets are ISPM 15 wood, strapped with corner boards. The exact count is confirmed with the packing house in the quotation.
How many fruit are in a 5 kg carton?
| Variety | Fruit weight | Fruit per 5 kg carton |
|---|---|---|
| Keo | About 250–400 g | About 12–18 |
| R2E2 | About 500–900 g | About 6–9 |
| Elephant | About 0.6–1.2 kg | About 4–8 |
Which pack goes with which route?
| Pack | Route | Typical market on our product pages |
|---|---|---|
| 18 kg basket or carton | Sea reefer | Malaysia |
| 5 kg carton | Sea reefer | Korea, after vapor-heat treatment |
| 4 kg carton | Air | Korea |
| 4.5 kg carton | Air | France and the EU (Keo) |
| 5 kg carton | Air | USA after irradiation, Australia, Canada, UAE |
Any treatment a destination requires is done per lot, and the pack is confirmed for your market in the quotation.
How does an air lot work?
Cartons are built onto airline pallets by the handling agent at Tan Son Nhat airport. The minimum is 200 cartons per shipment. The forwarder confirms the chargeable weight with the quotation.
What goes on the label?
An English label with the variety, class, size, net weight, lot code, packing date and registered packing-house code.
Frequently asked questions
Why are the 18 kg baskets loose-loaded?
It is the usual Malaysia lot: 1,350–1,400 baskets fill a 40' reefer at about 24–25 t.
How is the price quoted?
In the quotation only, per carton or per kg, for your pack and route.
For settings in transit, see mango storage temperature and ripening. To choose a variety, see Vietnamese mango varieties compared. 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.