Aquaculture for all

Catfish Processing Down 22 Per Cent

Sustainability Economics Politics +4 more

US - Total catfish processing in the US during August was down 22 per cent from last year, states the latest figures from the US Depatment of Agriculture report.

Farm-raised catfish processed during August 2011 totaled 30.7 million pounds round weight, down 22 per cent from August 2010.

The average price paid to producers was $1.28 per pound for August 2011, up 2.5 cents from last month and 48.7 cents above a year ago.

Net pounds of processed fish sold during August 2011 totaled 14.2 million pounds, down 30 per cent from the comparable month in 2010.

Sales of fresh fish, at 4.36 million pounds, were down 36 per cent from August 2010 and represented 31 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 9.87 million pounds, were down 27 per cent from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 69 per cent of total fish sales.

Sales of whole fish represented 16 per cent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 61 per cent, and the remaining 23 per cent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The total end of the month inventory increased 19 per cent from last month but was down 40 per cent from a year ago.

The total fresh and frozen average price for August 2011 was $3.65, up $1.13 from a year ago. The August 2011 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $3.66 per pound, up $1.20 from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $2.61 per pound, up $1.03 from August 2010.

Prices for fresh fillets were up $1.55 from a year ago at $4.77 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $3.65 per pound, up $1.11 from August 2010. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were up 90 cents at $3.15 and frozen fillets at $4.47 per pound were up $1.48 from a year ago.

Imports for consumption of Ictalurus, Pangasius, and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for July 2011 totaled 18.0 million pounds, up 76 per cent from the amount imported in July 2010.

Imports were from Cambodia, China, Mexico, and Viet Nam. The Ictalurus imports totaled 19 thousand pounds, which were from Mexico and Viet Nam.

Fresh catfish fillet exports totaled 150 thousand pounds, with 54.3 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest going to Germany, Nigeria, and Viet Nam. Exports of frozen catfish fillets reported for July 2011 totaled 7.8 thousand pounds, going to the Bahamas, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Further Reading

- You can view the full report by clicking here.
Create an account now to keep reading

It'll only take a second and we'll take you right back to what you were reading. The best part? It's free.

Already have an account? Sign in here