Chiquita Brands International Inc. (CQB)

[MWM]

Feb 23 (Reuters) - Chiquita Brands International Inc (CQB.N) posted a narrower quarterly loss, helped by higher banana sales, and the fresh fruit producer forecast strong 2010 revenue.

Chiquita, which competes with Fresh Del Monte (FDP.N) and Dole Food Co Inc (DOLE.N), posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $26 million, or 58 cents a share, compared with a loss of $413 million, or $9.30 a share, a year ago.

Excluding charges, the company posted a loss of 52 cents a share, compared with a loss of 74 cents a share, a year ago.

Net sales at the company, which also operates in Europe, rose 5 percent to $879 million.

Chiquita expects revenue in fiscal 2010 to rise 3 percent to 5 percent, implying full-year revenue of $3.61 billion to $3.68 billion.

Analysts on average were expecting revenue of $3.47 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Shares of the company were up 15 cents in after-hours trade. They closed at $14.65 Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.