<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192173</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRIS BARRY H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 EAST FIFTH ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CINCINNATI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>45202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2496</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13767.014</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Note 1: Table I, Item 4:  Restricted Stock Award (&quot;Award&quot;) granted February 20, 2004 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program (the &quot;LTIP&quot;) which is part of the Amended and Restated Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;) subject to the reporting person entering into a satisfactory Restricted Stock Agreement. The shares granted under this award will vest on January 1, 2005 as long as the reporting person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the vesting date.  Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Note 2: Table I, Item 6:  13,684 direct ownership; 83.014 indirect ownership by 401(k).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Barry H. Morris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2004-02-20
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001192173
MORRIS BARRY H
250 EAST FIFTH ST
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
0
1
0
0
Vice President Human Resources
Common Stock
2004-02-20
4
A
0
2496
0
A
13767.014
D
Note 1: Table I, Item 4:  Restricted Stock Award ("Award") granted February 20, 2004 under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Program (the "LTIP") which is part of the Amended and Restated Chiquita 2002 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "Plan") subject to the reporting person entering into a satisfactory Restricted Stock Agreement. The shares granted under this award will vest on January 1, 2005 as long as the reporting person is employed by the Company or any of the Company's subsidiaries on the vesting date.  Vesting of the Award may be accelerated under certain circumstances, including a Change of Control or termination of employment due to death, Disability or Retirement (as each is defined in the Plan).
Note 2: Table I, Item 6:  13,684 direct ownership; 83.014 indirect ownership by 401(k).
Robert W. Olson as Attorney-in-Fact for Barry H. Morris
2004-02-24