Reefer temperatures for Vietnamese fruit, and which fruits can share a container
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Short answer. Vietnamese fruit travels at set points from about 2 °C for lychee to 13–15 °C for banana, mango, jackfruit and durian. Fruits can share a reefer only when three things match: the set point, the ethylene behaviour and the odour. Durian always ships alone. The table lists the setting for each fruit.
Which set point does each fruit need?
| Fruit | Set point | Relative humidity | Storage life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lychee | 2–5 °C | 90–95 % | About 2–4 weeks |
| Young coconut | Trimmed about 2–5 °C; whole 3–6 °C | 90–95 % | Trimmed and wrapped: 3–4 weeks |
| Longan | 5 °C ±1 | 90–95 % | 2–4 weeks |
| Dragon fruit | 5 °C ±2 | 85–90 % | About 4 weeks |
| Purple passion fruit | 5 °C ±2 | 85–90 % | Air freight |
| Avocado, Booth 7 | 7 °C | 90–95 % | Confirmed with the quotation |
| Yellow passion fruit | 8 °C ±2 | 85–90 % | Air freight |
| Guava, mature-green | 8–10 °C | 90–95 % | 2–3 weeks |
| Seedless lime | 10 °C ±1 | 85–95 % | 6–8 weeks |
| Rambutan | 10–12 °C | 90–95 % | 12–14 days |
| Mangosteen | 10–13 °C | 85–90 % | About 2–4 weeks |
| Watermelon | 10–15 °C; about 7 °C on voyages over 7 days | 85–90 % | About 14 days at 15 °C; up to 21 days at 7–10 °C |
| Pomelo | 12 °C ±2 | 90–95 % | 6–8 weeks |
| Mango, mature-green | 13 °C | 90–95 % | 2–4 weeks; 3–6 weeks in controlled atmosphere |
| Papaya, green to quarter yellow | 13 °C | 90–95 % | 2–4 weeks |
| Jackfruit, unripe | 13 °C ±1 | 85–95 % | 2–4 weeks |
| Cavendish banana, all green | 13–14 °C | 90–95 % | Green life 2–4 weeks at 14 °C; 4–6 weeks in controlled atmosphere |
| Durian, mature unripe | 13–15 °C | 85–95 % | 3–5 weeks |
| Mature coconut, husked | 0–1.5 °C for long storage; 13–16 °C for up to 2 weeks | 75–85 % | Up to 60 days at 0–1.5 °C |
Settings are indicative and are confirmed for each lot in the quotation.
Which fruits sit in the same temperature band?
| Band | Fruits |
|---|---|
| About 2–5 °C | Lychee, longan, dragon fruit, purple passion fruit, trimmed young coconut |
| About 7–10 °C | Avocado, yellow passion fruit, guava, seedless lime |
| About 10–13 °C | Rambutan, mangosteen, pomelo, watermelon |
| About 13–15 °C | Banana, mango, papaya, jackfruit, durian |
A shared band is only the first test. It does not mean that two fruits can travel together.
Which rules block a mixed load?
- Ethylene. Passion fruit produces a lot of ethylene: it is kept ventilated and is not mixed with sensitive fruit. Watermelon is very sensitive to ethylene. Avocado does not travel with ethylene-producing fruit.
- Odour. Ripe durian has a strong odour. It ships in a dedicated reefer, never with odour-sensitive cargo.
- Set point. Avocado is not loaded with limes: 7 °C against about 10 °C.
- Chilling injury. A fruit from a warmer band is damaged at a colder set point. Mango and guava must not go below their limits, and jackfruit shows browning after storage below 12 °C.
Any mixed load is checked fruit by fruit and confirmed in the quotation.
Frequently asked questions
Which fruit ships coldest?
Lychee, at 2–5 °C. Husked mature coconut can be held at 0–1.5 °C for long storage.
Which fruits keep longest?
Pomelo and seedless lime, at 6–8 weeks.
Which fruits keep shortest?
Rambutan, at 12–14 days, and watermelon, at about 14–21 days. Rambutan usually flies.
Fruit-by-fruit detail is in the guides for bananas, mango, durian and lychee. For harvest months, see the fruit season calendar; for terms, see how a quotation works. To plan a load, use the quotation form.
Last reviewed 12 November 2026 by VIET FARM EXPORT COMPANY LIMITED, Ho Chi Minh City. Settings come from our product specifications; they are indicative and confirmed with each quotation.