Aq 1 (10-07) Catfish Processing National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released October 22, 2007, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Processing" call Fleming Gibson at 202-690-3237, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Catfish Processing Down 16 Percent from Last Year Farm-raised catfish processed during September 2007 totaled 39.5 million pounds round weight, down 16 percent from September 2006. This total is the lowest reported September round weight processed since September 1996 when 38.8 million pounds were processed. The average price paid to producers was 69.7 cents per pound for September 2007, down 3.4 cents from last month and 13.5 cents below a year ago. Net pounds of processed fish sold during September 2007 totaled 20.4 million pounds, down 8 percent from the comparable month in 2006. The total end of the month inventory decreased 1 percent from last month and was down 2 percent from a year ago. Sales of fresh fish, at 7.45 million pounds, were down slightly from September 2006 and represented 36 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 13.0 million pounds, were down 12 percent from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 64 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish represented 18 percent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 61 percent, and the remaining 21 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The September 2007 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.37 per pound, down 20 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.65 per pound, down 13 cents from September 2006. Prices for fresh fillets were down 19 cents from a year ago at $3.03 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.34 per pound, down 19 cents from September 2006. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were down 10 cents at $2.12 and frozen fillets at $2.79 per pound were down 24 cents from a year ago. Freshwater imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for August 2007 totaled 8.84 million pounds, down 2 percent from the amount imported in August 2006. Imports were from Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Indonesia, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 80 thousand pounds, which were from Brazil and China. Fresh boneless catfish fillet exports totaled 77.6 thousand pounds, with 51.6 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest to the Netherlands. No exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets were reported for August 2007. Import and export data are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. Farm-Raised Catfish: Quantity Processed and Prices Received by Producers, United States, 2006-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Round Weight Processed :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative : Price per Pound 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : :Change : : :Pct of : : :Pct of : : : from Month: 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent ------ Dollars ------ : Jan :50,703 46,957 93 50,703 46,957 93 0.727 0.838 0.111 Feb :49,145 44,439 90 99,848 91,396 92 0.729 0.838 0.109 Mar :56,315 44,397 79 156,163 135,793 87 0.745 0.838 0.093 Apr :43,126 37,954 88 199,289 173,747 87 0.785 0.841 0.056 May :42,865 38,867 91 242,154 212,614 88 0.796 0.840 0.044 Jun :41,214 37,275 90 283,368 249,889 88 0.807 0.817 0.010 Jul :45,528 39,168 86 328,896 289,057 88 0.812 0.762 -0.050 Aug :51,736 42,626 82 380,632 331,683 87 0.811 0.731 -0.080 Sep :47,296 39,519 84 427,928 371,202 87 0.832 0.697 -0.135 Oct :50,788 478,716 0.836 Nov :45,680 524,396 0.837 Dec :41,735 566,131 0.838 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Quantity processed by major processors and the prices received for fish delivered to the processing plant's door. Price includes charges for any services provided by the processing plant, such as seining and hauling, but does not include adjustments based on year-end settlements. Catfish Processors: Sales Volume and Average Price United States, September 2006-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Sales : Average : Volume : Price 2/ Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : Sep : Aug : Sep : Sep : Aug : Sep : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 : 2006 : 2007 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Pounds ------ --- Dollars per Pound -- : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,299 1,345 1,421 1.37 1.23 1.24 Whole Dressed : 1,295 1,392 1,309 2.11 2.07 2.00 Total : 2,594 2,737 2,730 1.78 1.70 1.65 : Other : Steaks : 75 86 77 2.46 2.31 2.29 Nuggets : 584 586 607 1.39 1.26 1.24 Other : 152 94 75 3.36 3.34 3.39 Total : 811 766 759 1.86 1.63 1.56 : Fillets : 4,075 4,045 3,959 3.22 3.08 3.03 : Total Fresh : 7,480 7,548 7,448 2.57 2.43 2.37 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 893 990 852 2.22 2.16 2.12 : Other : Steaks : 84 88 75 2.35 2.15 2.08 Nuggets : 2,965 2,975 2,630 0.99 0.90 0.91 Other : 1,387 997 1,011 2.60 2.57 2.57 Total : 4,436 4,060 3,716 1.52 1.34 1.39 : Fillets : 9,380 9,180 8,415 3.03 2.80 2.79 : Total Frozen : 14,709 14,230 12,983 2.53 2.34 2.34 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,299 1,345 1,421 1.37 1.23 1.24 Whole Dressed : 2,188 2,382 2,161 2.15 2.11 2.05 Total : 3,487 3,727 3,582 1.90 1.82 1.76 : Other : Steaks : 159 174 152 2.40 2.23 2.19 Nuggets : 3,549 3,561 3,237 1.06 0.96 0.97 Other : 1,539 1,091 1,086 2.68 2.64 2.63 Total : 5,247 4,826 4,475 1.57 1.38 1.41 : Fillets : 13,455 13,225 12,374 3.09 2.89 2.87 : Total Fresh & Frozen: 22,189 21,778 20,431 2.54 2.37 2.35 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions sections of this report. 2/ Gross value f.o.b. plant. Catfish Processors: Ending Inventory United States, September 2006-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ending Inventory Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------- : Sep 2006 : Aug 2007 : Sep 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 111 120 170 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 86 34 70 Other : * * * Total : 92 38 84 : Fillets : 556 348 318 : Total Fresh : 759 506 572 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 571 853 769 : Other : Steaks : 96 177 174 Nuggets : 2,442 1,421 1,397 Other : 968 866 699 Total : 3,506 2,464 2,270 : Fillets : 7,795 8,618 8,746 : Total Frozen : 11,872 11,935 11,785 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 682 973 939 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 2,528 1,455 1,467 Other : * * * Total : 3,598 2,502 2,354 : Fillets : 8,351 8,966 9,064 : Total Fresh & Frozen : 12,631 12,441 12,357 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions sections of this report. Catfish: Imports, United States, 2006-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Imports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ictalurus spp. : Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent -- 1,000 Pounds -- Percent : Jan : 415 4,381 1,056 2,644 12,056 456 Feb : 417 3,030 727 2,491 7,582 304 Mar : 388 2,101 541 3,267 6,430 197 Apr : 403 1,139 283 3,119 5,097 163 May : 356 1,394 392 3,306 5,434 164 Jun : 909 388 43 4,424 5,469 124 Jul : 547 401 73 5,232 5,718 109 Aug : 819 80 10 8,991 8,839 98 Sep : 391 9,091 Oct : 1,406 10,672 Nov : 2,399 12,830 Dec : 3,421 8,897 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. 2/ Includes freshwater imports for consumption of "Ictalurus" spp., "Pangasius" spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes. Catfish: Exports, United States, 2006-2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Exports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Frozen :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 : 2006 : 2007 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent : Jan : 73.5 69.7 95 34.3 0.0 Feb : 63.7 69.1 108 15.3 29.9 195 Mar : 78.8 252.8 321 8.6 14.3 166 Apr : 68.4 73.5 107 21.2 0.0 May : 58.3 51.8 89 19.0 5.1 27 Jun : 49.7 69.3 139 12.5 24.3 194 Jul : 83.0 117.2 141 36.7 0.0 Aug : 106.6 77.6 73 15.2 0.0 Sep : 73.6 10.5 Oct : 56.4 11.8 Nov : 40.1 23.5 Dec : 79.3 4.9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Data compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. Reliability of Catfish Processing Estimates Survey Procedures: Survey data for catfish processing are collected from approximately 20 processors. All participating processors must meet the minimum criteria of having a capacity to process at least 2,000 pounds live weight of catfish per 8-hour shift. The survey is conducted entirely by NASS Headquarter's staff in Washington, D.C.. However, NASS field offices are responsible for informing Headquarter's staff of any new processing operations in their state to ensure complete survey coverage. Processors are contacted either by mail, telephone, fax or internet. Diligent effort is made to ensure that all operations are accounted for in the estimate. Estimation Procedures: The "Catfish Processing" report refers strictly to farm-raised fish and excludes wild capture fish. Prior to summarization, questionnaires are compared with the previous month's reports for comparable placement of data, reasonable price levels, and a reasonable inventory carryover given the sales and processing totals reported. Estimates are made for those processors whose reports are not available in time to be included in the release. These plants are identified by an asterisk on page 6 of this release. Estimates are normally based on the processor's previous report and current conditions. Published totals are a straight summation of the individual reports and estimated data. Price items are weighted by the associated volumes to compute weighted average prices. The published price for total whole fish, however, reflects an adjustment to the round and gutted only price to bring it to an equivalent dressed weight price. If a plant uses a fiscal accounting system, prorating is used to convert reported data to a calendar month basis. Only national level estimates are published due to the limited number of plants involved. One unique feature of the "Catfish Processing" report is the listing of cooperating processors by name on each month's release. This feature originally was used to solicit industry cooperation in maintaining coverage, but it has continued because of the processors' overall acceptance of this policy. Import and export data for catfish, which are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau, are also included in this report. Revision Policy: Revisions may be necessary in the previous month's publication based on late reports received from plants. These revisions are made to improve month to month relationships. In February, all monthly estimates for the previous year are reviewed and subject to revision. This review is primarily based on data that may have been received after the original estimates were published. Reliability: Estimates are based on a census of all known active processors and, therefore, have no sampling variability. However, estimates may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplication, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing of the data. These errors are minimized through strict quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. Processing data were compiled in cooperation with the following processors: America's Catch, Inc. Harvest Select Catfish, Inc. Carolina Classics Catfish, Inc. Heartland Catfish Country Select Catfish, LLC Lake's Farm Raised Catfish, Inc. Delta Pride Catfish, Inc. Pride of the Pond Delta Supreme Fish Processors Prime Line Catfish Co. Fish Breeders of Idaho, Inc. Seabrook Seafood, Inc. Farm Catch Catfish Processors, Inc. Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, Inc. Freshwater Farms Products, LLC Southern Pride Catfish, LLC Guidry Catfish, Inc. SouthFresh Farms Haring's Pride Catfish Superior Fish Products Terms and Definitions Used for Catfish Processing Estimates: Average Price Paid to Producers - Refers to the price of fish delivered to the processing plant door. Price includes charges for any services provided by the processing plant, such as seining and hauling, but does not include any adjustments based on year-end settlements. Fillets - Boned sides of the fish, cut lengthwise away from the backbone. Includes regular, shank, and strip fillets; excludes any breaded products. Fresh Fish - Fish intended for immediate consumption. Also referred to as ice-packed. Frozen Fish - Fish which are individually quick frozen and glazed (IQF) or individually bagged and bulk frozen. Ictalurus spp. - All species under this genus, which includes channel catfish, blue catfish, and other catfish species. Nuggets - Small fillets cuts from below the rib section of the fish and usually includes weight of breading and added ingredients. Other Products - Includes steaks, nuggets, and all other products not separately reported including the weight of breading and added ingredients. Pangasius spp. - All species under this genus, which includes basa, tra, stuchi catfish, and other catfish species. Round & Gutted Only - Fish with no processing done or viscera only removed. Round Weight - The term for a fish's live weight. Siluriformes - The scientific order which contains all families of catfish. Steaks - Cross-section cuts from larger dressed fish. Strips - Finger size pieces of fish cut from fillets and usually includes breading or added ingredients. Whole Dressed - Weight of whole fish with only head, viscera, and skin removed. Generally, 60 percent of the live weight remains as dressed fish. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch (202) 720-3570 Darin Jantzi, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section (202) 720-3570 David Colwell - Cold Storage (202) 720-8784 Fleming Gibson - Egg Products, Poultry Slaughter, Catfish Processing, Mink (202) 690-3237 Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey (202) 720-3244 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs (202) 690-8632 Toby Paterson - Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised (202) 720-0585 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. For access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your e-mail address. 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