Catfish Processing ISSN: 1948-2701 Released January 20, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Catfish Processing Up 3 Percent from Last Year Farm-raised catfish processed during December 2010 totaled 34.8 million pounds round weight, up 3 percent from December 2009. The average price paid to producers was 86.1 cents per pound for December 2010, up 2.0 cents from last month and 9.8 cents above a year ago. Net pounds of processed fish sold during December 2010 totaled 16.9 million pounds, up 2 percent from the comparable month in 2009. Sales of fresh fish, at 6.04 million pounds, were down 1 percent from December 2009 and represented 36 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 10.8 million pounds, were up 3 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 20 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The total end of the month inventory increased 2 percent from last month but was down 15 percent from a year ago. The total fresh and frozen average price for December 2010 was $2.60, up 14 cents from a year ago. The December 2010 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.52 per pound, up 13 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.71 per pound, up 14 cents from December 2009. Prices for fresh fillets were up 13 cents from a year ago at $3.32 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.64 per pound, up 13 cents from December 2009. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were up 12 cents at $2.34 and frozen fillets at $3.06 per pound were up 15 cents from a year ago. Freshwater imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for November 2010 totaled 12.0 million pounds, down 6 percent from the amount imported in November 2009. Imports were from Cambodia, Canada, China, Spain, Thailand and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 586 thousand pounds, which were from Canada and China. Fresh, boneless catfish fillet exports totaled 40.8 thousand pounds, with all going to Canada. Exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets reported for November 2010 totaled 6.60 thousand pounds, going to Aruba and Kuwait. Import and export data are compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Farm-Raised Catfish Processed and Prices Paid to Producers by Month - United States: 2009-2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Round weight processed :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative : Price per pound 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : :2010 as: : :2010 as: : :Change : : :percent: : :percent: : : from Month : 2009 : 2010 :of 2009: 2009 : 2010 :of 2009: 2009 : 2010 : 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent ------ dollars ------ : January ...:36,406 40,042 110 36,406 40,042 110 0.810 0.764 -0.046 February ..:37,702 40,977 109 74,108 81,019 109 0.770 0.765 -0.005 March .....:44,912 46,650 104 119,020 127,669 107 0.773 0.785 0.012 April .....:40,768 37,111 91 159,788 164,780 103 0.763 0.804 0.041 May .......:39,925 38,244 96 199,713 203,024 102 0.762 0.796 0.034 June ......:39,370 38,656 98 239,083 241,680 101 0.763 0.786 0.023 July ......:40,966 39,302 96 280,049 280,982 100 0.771 0.788 0.017 August ....:39,490 39,231 99 319,539 320,213 100 0.769 0.790 0.021 September .:36,408 39,494 108 355,947 359,707 101 0.772 0.816 0.044 October ...:40,191 40,455 101 396,138 400,162 101 0.768 0.832 0.064 November ..:36,211 36,683 101 432,349 436,845 101 0.765 0.841 0.076 December ..:33,751 34,837 103 466,100 471,682 101 0.763 0.861 0.098 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Quantity processed by major processors and the prices paid 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. Price also includes any discounts or premiums for size or quality, but does not include adjustments based on year-end settlements. Processed Farm Raised Catfish Sales Volume and Average Price by Month - United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Sales volume : Average price 2/ Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : December : November : December : December : November : December : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------------ 1,000 pounds ------------ ------------- dollars per pound ------------ : Fresh fish : Whole : Round and gutted ...........: 1,153 1,095 1,134 1.10 1.11 1.28 Whole dressed ..............: 1,308 1,202 1,300 1.93 2.00 2.01 Total ......................: 2,461 2,297 2,434 1.57 1.61 1.71 : Other : Steaks .....................: 83 71 82 2.41 2.48 2.60 Nuggets ....................: 476 406 439 1.35 1.42 1.42 Other ......................: 52 39 49 3.38 3.66 3.54 Total ......................: 611 516 570 1.67 1.74 1.77 : Fillets ......................: 3,038 2,791 3,038 3.19 3.32 3.32 : Total fresh ..................: 6,110 5,604 6,042 2.39 2.47 2.52 : Frozen fish : Whole dressed ................: 506 597 548 2.22 2.23 2.34 : Other : Steaks .....................: 49 55 50 2.36 2.31 2.35 Nuggets ....................: 2,134 2,059 2,110 1.12 1.15 1.16 Other ......................: 617 600 614 2.93 2.97 2.96 Total ......................: 2,800 2,714 2,774 1.54 1.58 1.58 : Fillets ......................: 7,138 7,026 7,486 2.91 3.04 3.06 : Total frozen .................: 10,444 10,337 10,808 2.51 2.61 2.64 : Fresh and frozen fish : Whole : Round and gutted ...........: 1,153 1,095 1,134 1.10 1.11 1.28 Whole dressed ..............: 1,814 1,799 1,848 2.01 2.08 2.11 Total ......................: 2,967 2,894 2,982 1.68 1.74 1.82 : Other : Steaks .....................: 132 126 132 2.39 2.41 2.51 Nuggets ....................: 2,610 2,465 2,549 1.16 1.19 1.20 Other ......................: 669 639 663 2.96 3.01 3.00 Total ......................: 3,411 3,230 3,344 1.56 1.60 1.61 : Fillets ......................: 10,176 9,817 10,524 2.99 3.12 3.14 : Total fresh and frozen fish ..: 16,554 15,941 16,850 2.46 2.56 2.60 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions section of this report. 2/ Gross value FOB plant. Processed Farm-Raised Catfish Ending Inventory by Month - United States: 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ending inventory Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------- : December 2009 : November 2010 : December 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds : Fresh fish : Whole : Round and gutted .............: (D) (D) (D) Whole dressed ................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 114 161 134 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 42 99 88 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 44 103 92 : Fillets ........................: 356 403 290 : Total fresh ....................: 514 667 516 : Frozen fish : Whole dressed ..................: 713 768 934 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 2,246 1,903 2,050 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 3,060 2,906 3,325 : Fillets ........................: 10,169 7,687 7,550 : Total frozen ...................: 13,942 11,361 11,809 : Fresh and frozen fish : Whole : Round and gutted .............: (D) (D) (D) Whole dressed ................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 827 929 1,068 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 2,288 2,002 2,138 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 3,104 3,009 3,417 : Fillets ........................: 10,525 8,090 7,840 : Total fresh and frozen fish ....: 14,456 12,028 12,325 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for 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 [Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Imports :----------------------------------------------------------- : Ictalurus spp. : Total 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2010 as : : : 2010 as : : : percent : : : percent Month : 2009 : 2010 : of 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : of 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent : January .......: 2,344 3,091 132 9,819 14,612 149 February ......: 1,225 2,150 176 6,527 10,421 160 March .........: 972 1,179 121 8,942 7,608 85 April .........: 1,364 1,220 89 8,548 8,804 103 May ...........: 1,659 656 40 11,592 9,971 86 June ..........: 1,088 651 60 10,577 10,293 97 July ..........: 1,849 516 28 10,765 10,268 95 August ........: 1,210 70 6 11,711 9,957 85 September .....: 1,385 195 14 12,541 11,626 93 October .......: 1,584 196 12 13,857 15,046 109 November ......: 2,144 586 27 12,783 12,032 94 December ......: 2,527 11,718 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ 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 [Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Exports :----------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Frozen :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2010 as : : : 2010 as : : : percent : : : percent Month : 2009 : 2010 : of 2009 : 2009 : 2010 : of 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent : January .......: 87.0 90.4 104 0.0 26.4 (X) February ......: 65.1 58.2 89 0.0 33.8 (X) March .........: 65.1 165.8 255 50.6 16.5 33 April .........: 47.5 39.5 83 12.8 28.8 225 May ...........: 79.1 47.3 60 14.2 20.5 144 June ..........: 63.8 34.2 54 21.4 14.9 70 July ..........: 68.6 39.5 58 20.5 29.7 145 August ........: 91.8 45.4 49 12.4 3.3 27 September .....: 50.6 38.6 76 17.7 16.4 93 October .......: 138.0 72.5 53 43.4 20.3 47 November ......: 59.1 40.8 69 30.2 6.6 22 December ......: 63.1 56.3 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (X) Not applicable. Statistical Methodology 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 National Agricultural Statistics Service 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. Estimating 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 United States 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. South Fresh Farms Harings 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. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov 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 ................... 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