Aquaculture for all

Catfish Processing Down 37 Per Cent

Processing Economics +2 more

US - According to the latest United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, farm-raised catfish processed during June 2011 totaled 24.3 million pounds round weight, down 37 per cent from June 2010.

The average price paid to producers was $1.23 per pound for June 2011, up 6.2 cents from last month and 44.5 cents above a year ago.

Net pounds of processed fish sold during June 2011 totaled 12.4 million pounds, down 35 per cent from the comparable month in 2010.

Sales of fresh fish, at 4.59 million pounds, were down 33 per cent from June 2010 and represented 37 per cent of total sales.

Frozen fish sales, at 7.82 million pounds, were down 36 per cent from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 63 per cent of total fish sales.

Sales of whole fish represented 20 per cent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 57 per cent, and the remaining 23 per cent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products.

The total end of the month inventory increased nine per cent from last month but was down 49 per cent from a year ago.

The total fresh and frozen average price for June 2011 was $3.46, up 95 cents from a year ago. The June 2011 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $3.44 per pound, up 99 cents from last year.

Prices for fresh whole fish were $2.49 per pound, up 91 cents from June 2010. Prices for fresh fillets were up $1.34 from a year ago at $4.60 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $3.48 per pound, up 94 cents from June 2010. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were up 83 cents at $3.03 and frozen fillets at $4.28 per pound were up $1.34 from a year ago.

Imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for May 2011 totaled 16.3 million pounds, up 64 per cent from the amount imported in May 2010.

Imports were from Cambodia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, and Thailand. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 113 thousand pounds, which were from Canada, China, Indonesia, and Mexico.

Fresh catfish fillet exports totaled 41.0 thousand pounds, all of which going to Canada. Exports of frozen catfish fillets reported for May 2011 totaled three thousand pounds, going to Guatemala.

Further Reading

- You can view the full report by clicking here.
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