China cold storage solution provider
For banana exporters, timing is crucial. Shipping too early means the bananas might arrive still green; shipping too late means they’ll rot at the dock. Therefore, professional banana cold storage is essential; it’s a guarantee of your profits.
But before asking “What’s the ideal temperature?”, ask:
“For my investment, how many cartons can I store at 13°C—and how many extra days of market flexibility do I get?”
Temperature & Shelf Life: The Commercial Reality
| Banana Stage | Storage Temp | Relative Humidity | Max Safe Storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unripe (green) | 13–14°C | 85–95% RH | 25–35 days |
| Ripe (ready-to-sell) | 12–13°C | 85–95% RH | 7–10 days |
⚠️ Critical: Below 8°C → chilling injury (black peel, hard flesh). Above 20°C → rapid ripening & spoilage.
Also: Bananas emit ethylene gas. Store them separately from apples, avocados, or tomatoes—otherwise, you’ll trigger premature ripening across your entire inventory.
📏 How Much Can You Store? (By Carton or Ton)
Standard export packaging:
- 13.5 kg carton (common in Philippines, Ecuador, Côte d’Ivoire)
- Pallet load: 40–48 cartons (≈540–650 kg/pallet)
| Facility Size | Floor Area | Usable Volume | Storage Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (300 tons) | ～600 m² | 2,700 m³ | 22,000 – 25,000 cartons |
| Medium (600 tons) | ～1,100 m² | 5,000 m³ | 44,000 – 50,000 cartons |
| Large (1,000 tons) | ～1,800 m² | 8,300 m³ | 73,000 – 83,000 cartons |
💡 Most clients use single-zone design (13°C ±0.5°C) with forced-air circulation to ensure uniform cooling—no hot spots, no black tips.
💰 Turnkey Investment (USD)
All systems include:
- 100mm PU insulated panels (aluminum cladding, B1 fire-rated)
- Precision refrigeration (±0.5°C control, EC fans)
- Humidity management (steam humidifier or wet-wall system)
- Ethylene monitoring (optional but recommended)
| Capacity | Total Cost (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 300 tons | 120,000 | Basic 13°C control, manual monitoring |
| 600 tons | 200,000 | Digital temp/humidity logging, SMS alerts |
| 1,000 tons | 310,000 | Full automation, backup power interface, remote access |
✅ Turnkey includes equipment, installation, commissioning, and operator training
❌ Excludes: land, concrete slab, utility hookups
Systems are engineered for high ambient temps (up to 45°C) and monsoon humidity
🌍 Real Projects – Middle East
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – Banana Importer
- Need: Hold 600 tons of green bananas during Ramadan demand surge
- Solution: 1,100 m² cold room at 13.5°C with humidity control
- Cost: $ 202,000 – Result: Extended holding period by 20 days; avoided $ 300K in rush-airfreight costs
📩 Get Your Custom Banana Storage Quote
Tell us:
✅ Monthly volume (tons or cartons?)
✅ Target market (GCC, EU, local retail?)
✅ Power reliability in your area?
We’ll provide:
- Recommended size (m² + carton capacity)
- Turnkey cost in USD
- Expected shelf-life extension
- ROI estimate based on spoilage reduction