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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000101063-05-000036.txt : 20050705
<SEC-HEADER>0000101063-05-000036.hdr.sgml : 20050704
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050705142556
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000101063-05-000036
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050705
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050705

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000101063
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION - CROPS [0100]
		IRS NUMBER:				041923360
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 E FIFTH ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5137848880

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		250 EAST FIFTH STREET
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNITED BRANDS CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900403

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENJAMIN JEFFREY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194016

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01550
		FILM NUMBER:		05936159

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
		STREET 2:		38TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000101063</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cqb</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194016</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BENJAMIN JEFFREY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>38TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>228</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13617</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Table I, Item 4:  Fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors are paid each quarter in arrears.  Mr. Benjamin has elected to have the cash portion of his director's quarterly compensation (which consists of $6,250 in quarterly fees) deferred in cash, pursuant to the Chiquita Directors Deferred Compensation Program (the &quot;DDCP&quot;), and the stock portion (which consists of a number of shares of Chiquita's Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value of $6,250) deferred in common stock units, which must be settled in Common Stock, pursuant to the DDCP.  The number of stock units credited to his account is based on the aggregate fair market value (the average of the high and low sales prices) of Chiquita's Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape on the last trading day of the calendar quarter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara Wagner as Attorney-in-Fact for Jeffrey D. Benjamin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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