Aq 1 (3-10) Catfish Processing Washington, D.C. Released March 18, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Catfish Processing" call Chris Hawthorn at (202) 720-0585, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. Catfish Processing Up 9 Percent from Last Year Farm-raised catfish processed during February 2010 totaled 41.0 million pounds round weight, up 9 percent from February 2009. The average price paid to producers was 76.5 cents per pound for February 2010, up 0.1 cent from last month but 0.5 cent below a year ago. Net pounds of processed fish sold during February 2010 totaled 22.6 million pounds, up 9 percent from the comparable month in 2009. The total end of the month inventory decreased 16 percent from last month and was down 1 percent from a year ago. Sales of fresh fish, at 8.11 million pounds, were up 11 percent from February 2009 and represented 36 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 14.5 million pounds, were up 9 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 62 percent, and the remaining 21 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The February 2010 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.34 per pound, down 12 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.49 per pound, down 18 cents from February 2009. Prices for fresh fillets were down 14 cents from a year ago at $3.10 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.56 per pound, down 3 cents from February 2009. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were unchanged at $2.20 and frozen fillets at $2.92 per pound were down 10 cents from a year ago. Freshwater imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for January 2010 totaled 14.6 million pounds, up 49 percent from the amount imported in January 2009. Imports were from Cambodia, China, Ecuador, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 3.09 million pounds, which were from China, Indonesia and Vietnam. Fresh, boneless catfish fillet exports totaled 90.4 thousand pounds, with 56.6 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest going to China, Ghana, Nigeria and Peru. Exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets reported for January 2010 totaled 26.4 thousand pounds, going to the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, China-Hong Kong, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Trinidad and Tobago. Import and export data are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau. Farm-Raised Catfish: Quantity Processed and Prices Received by Producers, by Month, United States, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Round Weight Processed :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative : Price per Pound 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : :Change : : :Pct of : : :Pct of : : : from Month: 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent ------ Dollars ------ : Jan 2/:36,406 40,042 110 36,406 40,042 110 0.810 0.764 -0.046 Feb :37,702 40,977 109 74,108 81,019 109 0.770 0.765 -0.005 Mar :44,912 119,020 0.773 Apr :40,768 159,788 0.763 May :39,925 199,713 0.762 Jun :39,370 239,083 0.763 Jul :40,966 280,049 0.771 Aug :39,490 319,539 0.769 Sep :36,408 355,947 0.772 Oct :40,191 396,138 0.768 Nov :36,211 432,349 0.765 Dec :33,751 466,100 0.763 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 2/ Revised 2010 data only. Catfish Processors: Sales Volume and Average Price by Month, United States, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Sales : Average : Volume : Price 2/ Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : Feb : Jan : Feb : Feb : Jan : Feb : 2009 : 2010 3/ : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 3/ : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Pounds ------ --- Dollars per Pound -- : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,263 1,360 1,580 1.16 1.08 1.06 Whole Dressed : 1,489 1,451 1,576 2.04 1.93 1.87 Total : 2,752 2,811 3,156 1.67 1.55 1.49 : Other : Steaks : 83 99 106 2.45 2.41 2.39 Nuggets : 679 551 590 1.26 1.36 1.33 Other : 48 45 39 3.55 3.62 3.59 Total : 810 695 735 1.52 1.66 1.60 : Fillets : 3,732 3,607 4,221 3.24 3.16 3.10 : Total Fresh : 7,294 7,113 8,112 2.46 2.38 2.34 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 879 654 822 2.20 2.22 2.20 : Other : Steaks : 62 52 58 2.35 2.34 2.35 Nuggets : 2,801 3,056 2,819 1.16 1.19 1.23 Other : 1,289 1,179 1,076 3.18 3.57 3.13 Total : 4,152 4,287 3,953 1.80 1.86 1.76 : Fillets : 8,333 7,411 9,730 3.02 2.90 2.92 : Total Frozen : 13,364 12,352 14,505 2.59 2.50 2.56 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,263 1,360 1,580 1.16 1.08 1.06 Whole Dressed : 2,368 2,105 2,398 2.10 2.02 1.98 Total : 3,631 3,465 3,978 1.80 1.68 1.64 : Other : Steaks : 145 151 164 2.41 2.39 2.38 Nuggets : 3,480 3,607 3,409 1.18 1.22 1.25 Other : 1,337 1,224 1,115 3.19 3.57 3.15 Total : 4,962 4,982 4,688 1.76 1.83 1.74 : Fillets : 12,065 11,018 13,951 3.09 2.99 2.97 : Total Fresh & Frozen: 20,658 19,465 22,617 2.54 2.46 2.48 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions section of this report. 2/ Gross value f.o.b. plant. 3/ Revised. Catfish Processors: Ending Inventory by Month, United States, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ending Inventory Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------- : Feb 2009 : Jan 2010 : Feb 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 127 193 173 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 72 80 64 Other : * * * Total : 81 86 68 : Fillets : 414 616 340 : Total Fresh : 622 895 581 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 499 884 952 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 911 1,787 1,587 Other : * * * Total : 1,819 2,533 2,431 : Fillets : 8,838 9,654 7,716 : Total Frozen : 11,156 13,071 11,099 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 626 1,077 1,125 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 983 1,867 1,651 Other : * * * Total : 1,900 2,619 2,499 : Fillets : 9,252 10,270 8,056 : Total Fresh & Frozen : 11,778 13,966 11,680 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Not published to avoid disclosure of individual operations. 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions section of this report. Catfish: Imports, by Month, United States, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Imports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ictalurus spp. : Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent -- 1,000 Pounds -- Percent : Jan : 2,344 3,091 132 9,819 14,612 149 Feb : 1,225 6,527 Mar : 972 8,942 Apr : 1,364 8,548 May : 1,659 11,592 Jun : 1,088 10,577 Jul : 1,849 10,765 Aug : 1,210 11,711 Sep : 1,385 12,541 Oct : 1,584 13,857 Nov : 2,144 12,783 Dec : 2,527 11,718 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, by Month, United States, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Exports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Frozen :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent : Jan : 87.0 90.4 104 0.0 26.4 Feb : 65.1 0.0 Mar : 65.1 50.6 Apr : 47.5 12.8 May : 79.1 14.2 Jun : 63.8 21.4 Jul : 68.6 20.5 Aug : 91.8 12.4 Sep : 50.6 17.7 Oct : 138.0 43.4 Nov : 59.1 30.2 Dec : 63.1 56.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 18 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 Headquarters staff in Washington, D.C. However, NASS field offices are responsible for informing Headquarters 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, LLC Heartland Catfish Consolidated Catfish Producers, LLC Lake's Farm Raised Catfish Inc. Delta Supreme Fish Processors Pride of the Pond Fish Breeders of Idaho, Inc. Prime Line Inc. Farm Catch Catfish Processors, Inc. Seabrook Seafood, Inc. Freshwater Farms Products, LLC Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, Inc. 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 Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section....................(202) 720-4447 Doug Bounds - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised..............(202) 690-3237 David Colwell - Cold Storage..................................................(202) 720-8784 Chris Hawthorn - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink....................(202) 720-0585 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs....................................................(202) 690-8632 Troy Marshall - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey.....................(202) 720-3244 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. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. 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