Bananas are highly perishable and sensitive to temperature, humidity, and handling. For importers, reefer container shipping is essential to maintain freshness during long-distance export. Understanding how bananas are transported in refrigerated containers can prevent losses, maintain shelf life, and guarantee quality.
1. Why Bananas Need Reefer Shipping
- Maintain proper temperature (13–14°C)
- Control humidity to prevent drying
- Slow down respiration rate and ripening
- Protect against mechanical damage
Without a reefer, transit losses can exceed 20–30%.
2. Temperature Management
- Pre-cool bananas before loading
- Maintain uniform temperature inside container
- Avoid exposure to heat or cold shock
Tip for Importers: Always request temperature logs during transit.
3. Ventilation & Airflow
- Containers have adjustable vents
- Ensures even cooling across all cartons
- Prevents hotspots and premature ripening
4. Loading Practices
- Palletized cartons with proper spacing
- Use of ventilated cartons for airflow
- Weight distribution to avoid crushing
5. Humidity Control
- Maintain 85–90% relative humidity
- Reduces water loss
- Prevents shriveling and skin browning
6. Transit Duration & Shelf Life
- Europe: 20–25 days
- GCC: 15–20 days
- Asia: 12–18 days
- Correct packing + reefer = 25–35 days shelf life
Conclusion
Reefer container shipping is non-negotiable for export-quality bananas. Importers should work with exporters who provide complete cold chain transparency to protect their investment.