Why buy banana cartons direct from the manufacturer?
If you search for banana boxes in bulk, most results are trading marketplaces or domestic print shops selling small custom runs. Fruit exporters work differently: they contract a corrugated plant close to the packing zone, lock a box specification and print design, and call off containers weekly during the season. Buying direct gives you three things a marketplace listing cannot: a plant audit trail (ISO 9001/14001, FSC chain of custody, print-quality programs), a box engineered for your fruit, stacking pattern and shipping humidity, and season-long price and capacity commitments.
Fuxing Development Group runs four plants across the Philippines, Vietnam and China. Our Davao carton plant (Panabo City, Davao del Norte, 80,000 m²) sits in the heart of the Philippine banana belt — it is the largest carton plant in the Davao region, producing more than half of the region's carton output — and supplies leading international banana brands operating in Mindanao. A second Philippine plant in Calamba, Laguna serves Manila-area packers, with sister plants in Hai Phong, Vietnam and Dongguan, China.
Banana carton programs and specifications
| Program | Style | Net fruit weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 kg premium / cluster carton | Two-piece telescopic, lower height | 13 kg (28.6 lb) | Premium, organic and cluster-bag programs; Middle East and Asia routes also use 13 kg and 18 kg formats |
| 40 lb carton (208-type) | Two-piece full telescopic | 18–18.14 kg (40 lb) | Philippine and Central American fruit to the US and Asia |
| 22XU-type carton | Two-piece full telescopic | 19–19.5 kg (41.5–43 lb) | Ecuador and Colombia programs to the US and EU |
| Plantain box | Open-top or reinforced telescopic, double-wall | Up to 22.7 kg (50 lb) | Plantain (plátano) to US ethnic and foodservice markets |
| Pineapple carton | Single-layer tray or telescopic | 10–12 kg, 6–10 fruit count | Fresh pineapple by sea; vent columns aligned vertically |
All programs share a pallet-optimized footprint of about 500 × 400 mm (19.7 × 15.7 in); height varies by net weight. Confirm exact internal dimensions against your fruit length and packing pattern before tooling.
Pallet and container math
| Unit | Standard count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pallet layer (40 × 48 in pallet) | 8 boxes | 500 × 400 mm footprint interlocks with no overhang |
| Pallet (6 layers) | 48 boxes | Vent holes must align vertically through all layers |
| 40-ft high-cube reefer | 20 pallets = 960 boxes | Packed-fruit basis; ~17.4–18.7 t net fruit depending on program |
| 40-ft high-cube, empty KD cartons | One production run of one size | Cartons ship flat and are quoted per container — this sets the practical MOQ |
Board grade: specify wet strength, not dry lab numbers
Most banana and plantain export cartons run on double-wall (BC-flute) board. The mistake we see in RFQs is specifying a single dry BCT (box compression) number. Corrugated board can lose roughly 40–60% of its dry compression strength after weeks at 85–90% relative humidity — exactly the conditions inside a banana reefer. A box that passes a dry lab test can still fail on week five of a trans-Pacific route.
- Set the compression target from your real stack: boxes per pallet × pallets stacked × route duration.
- Ask the plant to quote board grade against a humidity-conditioned compression target, and confirm with a trial shipment on your actual route.
- For wet or heavily iced cargo, compare a water-based barrier coating against waxed board — see our waxed boxes comparison.
- Vent area of roughly 2–5% of wall area keeps cooling airflow through the pallet; vent positions must align vertically.
Print, food safety and compliance
Banana cartons are a moving billboard: high-graphics flexo print up to 8 colors is standard for branded programs. Fuxing's Dongguan plant is certified under GMI print-quality programs used by major US retailers (The Home Depot, Lowe's programs), and all four plants run ISO 9001 quality systems with ISO 14001 environmental management; FSC-certified board is available on request. For US-bound food-contact packaging we document board and coating compliance on request, and quotes state box style, board grade, conditioned compression target, print colors and Incoterm so offers can be compared line by line.
How to get a bulk quote
- Tell us the program: net weight (13 / 18.14 / 19.5 kg or 50 lb plantain), market and route.
- Send the print design (or ask our team to adapt your brand to a printable layout).
- State volumes: containers per month during the season — pricing is quoted per 40-ft container per size.
- Lead time: typically 10–15 days production for repeat runs after artwork and board approval; first orders add plate-making, die tooling and a trial shipment.
Get a banana carton quote within 12 hours
Factory-direct from Davao, Calamba, Hai Phong and Dongguan. Reply states box style, board grade, conditioned BCT basis, print and Incoterm.
WhatsApp Us Email jacky@fuxinggroup.cn Contact FormFrequently asked questions
What sizes do banana export cartons come in?
Almost all banana export cartons share a pallet-optimized footprint of about 500 × 400 mm so that 8 boxes fit per layer on a 40 × 48 in pallet. Height varies by program: 13 kg premium/cluster cartons, 18–18.14 kg (40 lb) cartons common for Philippine and Central American fruit, and 19–19.5 kg (41.5–43 lb) programs used by Ecuadorian and Colombian exporters.
What is the difference between a banana carton and a plantain box?
Plantain boxes typically carry up to 50 lb (22.7 kg) of denser fruit, so they use heavier double-wall board and often an open-top or reinforced telescopic style, while standard banana cartons carry 13–19.5 kg. Plantain packs also need stronger hand holes and stacking tabs because per-box weight is higher.
How many banana boxes fit on a pallet and in a 40-ft container?
The standard export pattern is 8 boxes per layer × 6 layers = 48 boxes per pallet, and a 40-ft high-cube reefer takes 20 pallets = 960 packed boxes. Empty knocked-down cartons ship flat and are quoted per container, which sets the practical MOQ.
What board grade should a banana export carton use?
Most use double-wall (BC-flute) board. Specify compression on a humidity-conditioned basis: board can lose roughly 40–60% of its dry compression strength after weeks at 85–90% RH, so dry lab BCT alone does not predict reefer performance.
What is the MOQ and lead time when buying banana cartons in bulk?
Programs are normally quoted per 40-ft container per size and print design. Repeat runs typically take 10–15 days production after approvals; first orders add plates, die tooling and a trial shipment.
Can banana cartons be printed with our own brand?
Yes — high-graphics flexo up to 8 colors is standard. Ask whether the plant runs a recognized print-quality program; Fuxing's Dongguan plant holds GMI certifications used by major US retailers, and FSC board is available.