Catfish Processing Down 4 Percent
Farm-raised catfish processed during June 2004 totaled 50.2 million pounds round weight, down 4 percent
from June 2003. The average price paid to producers was 68.9 cents per pound for June 2004, down
3.1 cents from last month but 10.3 cents above a year ago.
Net pounds of processed fish sold during June 2004 totaled 24.9 million pounds, down 2 percent from the
comparable month in 2003. Total end of the month inventory decreased 5 percent from last month and was
down 1 percent from a year ago. Sales of fresh fish, at 9.46 million pounds, were down 8 percent from June
2003 and represented 38 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 15.4 million pounds, were up 2 percent
from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 62 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish
represented 15 percent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 61 percent, and the remaining 24 percent
were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products.
The June 2004 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.28 per pound, an increase of
25 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.57 per pound, up 18 cents from last year.
Prices
for fresh fillets were up 24 cents at $2.74 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.22 per pound, up 18 cents
from June 2003. Prices for frozen whole fish were up 14 cents at $1.96, while frozen fillets at $2.65 per
pound were up 24 cents from a year ago.
Freshwater imports of frozen, boneless, catfish fillets for May 2004 totaled 248 thousand pounds, 65 percent
below year ago. Sixty-four percent of the imports were from China, 29 percent from Vietnam, with the
remainder coming from Guyana and Thailand.
Exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets reported for May 2004 totaled 45.6 thousand pounds, with more
than half going to Mexico, and the balance to Canada and Haiti. Fresh fillet exports totaled 190 thousand
pounds, with ninty-five percent going to Canada and the balance going to the United Kingdom and the
Netherland Antillies.
Import and export data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Census.
United States 2002 - 2004
To view the full report, including tables, please click here (PDF Format)
Source: USDA NASS - Catfish Processing Report - 21st July 2004