Catfish Processing Down 2 Percent
Farm-raised catfish processed during August 2004 totaled 53.3 million pounds round weight, down 2 percent
from August 2003. The average price paid to producers was 68.3 cents per pound for August 2004, up
0.1 cent from last month and 13.1 cents above a year ago.
Net pounds of processed fish sold during August 2004 totaled 26.5 million pounds, down 4 percent from the
comparable month in 2003. Total end of the month inventory decreased 2 percent from last month but was up
slightly from a year ago. Sales of fresh fish, at 9.66 million pounds, were down 11 percent from August 2003
and represented 36 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 16.9 million pounds, were up 1 percent from a
year ago and accounted for the remaining 64 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish represented
16 percent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 60 percent, and the remaining 24 percent were mostly
steaks, nuggets, and value added products.
The August 2004 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.25 per pound, an increase of
26 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.58 per pound, up 25 cents from last year.
Prices
for fresh fillets were up 25 cents at $2.73 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.17 per pound, up 12 cents
from August 2003. Prices for frozen whole fish were up 15 cents at $1.97, while frozen fillets at $2.63 per
pound were up 24 cents from a year ago.
Freshwater imports of frozen, boneless, catfish fillets for July 2004 totaled 123 thousand pounds, 72 percent
below year ago. None of these imports were reported as Channel Catfish. All the imports came from China.
Exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets reported for July 2004 totaled 7.33 thousand pounds, all going to
Canada. Fresh fillet exports totaled 46.0 thousand pounds, the majority going to Canada and the balance
going to the United Kingdom.
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 September 2004