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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351331</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Johnson Joseph B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, CAO, Controller, Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance-Based Restricted Stock Retention Award</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Item 6:  Performance-based restricted stock retention award granted June 10, 2013, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest, if at all, prior to May 28, 2016 (a) as to 20% of the shares granted shares if Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $11 per share over any 20 consecutive trading-day period (b) in additional increments of 20% of the shares granted, in each case if and when the price of the Common Stock, calculated as set forth above, is at least $11.50, $12.00 and $12.50 per share, and (c) in additional increments of 10% of the shares granted, in each case if and when the price of the Common Stock calculated as set forth above, is at least $13.00 and $13.50 per share. Any Shares not vested on May 28, 2016 will be forfeited. Any vested units will not be paid until May 28, 2016, provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the its subsidiaries at the end of the performance period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Joseph B. Johnson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-06-10
0
0000101063
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
CQB
0001351331
Johnson Joseph B
550 SOUTH CALDWELL STREET
CHARLOTTE
NC
28202
0
1
0
0
VP, CAO, Controller, Treasurer
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Retention Award
0
2013-06-10
4
A
0
7500
0
A
2016-05-28
Common Stock
7500
7500
D
Item 6:  Performance-based restricted stock retention award granted June 10, 2013, pursuant to the Chiquita Stock and Incentive Plan.  The shares granted under this award will vest, if at all, prior to May 28, 2016 (a) as to 20% of the shares granted shares if Chiquita's Common Stock achieves a price of at least $11 per share over any 20 consecutive trading-day period (b) in additional increments of 20% of the shares granted, in each case if and when the price of the Common Stock, calculated as set forth above, is at least $11.50, $12.00 and $12.50 per share, and (c) in additional increments of 10% of the shares granted, in each case if and when the price of the Common Stock calculated as set forth above, is at least $13.00 and $13.50 per share. Any Shares not vested on May 28, 2016 will be forfeited. Any vested units will not be paid until May 28, 2016, provided that the Reporting Person is employed by the Company or any of the its subsidiaries at the end of the performance period.
James E. Thompson as Attorney-in-Fact for Joseph B. Johnson
2013-06-11