Catfish Processing

0150 - Catfish Processing - March 20, 2013.pdf

Aquaculture Survey

Catfish Processing

OMB: 0535-0150

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Catfish Processing
ISSN: 1948-2701

Released March 20, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Special Note
Due to sequestration, all releases of this report have been suspended through the end of the federal fiscal year on
September 30, 2013. Please check the NASS website at www.nass.usda.gov for any future updates on NASS programs.

Catfish Processing Up 11 Percent from Last Year
Farm-raised catfish processed during February 2013 totaled 30.0 million pounds round weight, up 11 percent from
February 2012. The average price paid to producers was 82.2 cents per pound for February 2013, up 0.3 cent from last
month but 40.7 cents below a year ago.
Net pounds of processed fish sold during February 2013 totaled 15.5 million pounds, up 8 percent from the comparable
month in 2012. Sales of fresh fish, at 5.59 million pounds, were up 8 percent from February 2012 and represented
36 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 9.96 million pounds, were up 8 percent from a year ago and accounted for
the remaining 64 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish represented 20 percent of the total fish sold, fillets
accounted for 60 percent, and the remaining 20 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The total
end of the month inventory decreased 9 percent from last month and was down 40 percent from a year ago.
The total fresh and frozen average price for February 2013 was $2.77, down 73 cents from a year ago. The February 2013
average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.67 per pound, down 75 cents from last year. Prices for
fresh whole fish were $1.83 per pound, down 61 cents from February 2012. Prices for fresh fillets were down $1.00 from
a year ago at $3.68 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.82 per pound, down 72 cents from February 2012. Prices for
frozen whole dressed fish were down 21 cents at $2.73 and frozen fillets at $3.15 per pound were down $1.10 from a year
ago.
Imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for January 2013
totaled 19.4 million pounds, down 24 percent from the amount imported in January 2012. Imports were from Bangladesh,
Brazil, China, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 861 thousand pounds, which
were from China and Thailand.
Fresh catfish fillet exports totaled 377 thousand pounds, with 55.8 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest going to
China, Kuwait, Mexico, the Islands of Turks and Caicos, United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. Exports of frozen catfish
fillets reported for January 2013 totaled 46.0 thousand pounds, going to Nigeria and the Islands of Turks and Caicos.
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: 2012-2013
[Blank cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
Round weight processed
Monthly
2012

2013

2013 as
percent
of 2012

2012

2013

2013 as
percent
of 2012

2012

2013

Change
from
2012

(1,000
pounds)

(percent)

(1,000
pounds)

(percent)

(dollars)

January ...............
February .............
March ..................
April ....................
May .....................
June ....................
July .....................
August ................
September ..........
October ...............
November ...........
December ...........
1

Price per pound 1

Cumulative

Month

25,843
26,950
28,098
22,463
25,009
23,938
25,056
24,886
24,535
28,596
22,124
22,653

29,458
29,959

114
111

25,843
52,793
80,891
103,354
128,363
152,301
177,357
202,243
226,778
255,374
277,498
300,151

29,458
59,417

114
113

1.248
1.229
1.201
1.167
1.038
0.934
0.843
0.798
0.793
0.803
0.822
0.830

0.819
0.822

-0.429
-0.407

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.

Catfish Processed – United States
Million pounds

25
2012

2013

20
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average Catfish Grower Price – United States
Price per pound

$1.30
$1.10
$.90
2012

$.70
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

2013

Dec

Catfish Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Processed Farm-Raised Catfish Sales Volume and Average Price by Month – United States:
2012 and 2013
Average price 2

Sales volume
Item

February
2012

January
2013

February
2013

February
2012

January
2013

February
2013

(1,000 pounds)

(dollars per pound)

Fresh fish
Whole
Round and gutted ................
Whole dressed .....................
Total ....................................

1,136
1,187
2,323

1,709
1,150
2,859

1,263
1,217
2,480

1.80
2.94
2.44

1.47
2.19
1.81

1.45
2.13
1.83

Other
Steaks .................................
Nuggets ...............................
Other ...................................
Total ....................................

45
446
24
515

79
433
18
530

57
488
21
566

3.54
1.82
4.77
2.11

2.82
1.54
4.29
1.82

2.91
1.53
4.61
1.78

Fillets .......................................

2,349

2,372

2,543

4.68

3.70

3.68

Total fresh ...............................

5,187

5,761

5,589

3.42

2.59

2.67

Frozen fish
Whole dressed .........................

634

574

2.94

2.77

2.73

Other
Steaks .................................
Nuggets ...............................
Other ...................................
Total ....................................

56
1,943
645
2,644

45
2,035
882
2,962

39
1,841
680
2,560

3.15
1.39
4.09
2.09

2.64
1.43
3.58
2.09

2.58
1.45
3.31
1.96

Fillets .......................................

5,982

6,707

6,826

4.25

3.20

3.15

Total frozen .............................

9,260

10,243

9,960

3.54

2.85

2.82

Fresh and frozen fish
Whole
Round and gutted ................
Whole dressed .....................
Total ....................................

1,136
1,821
2,957

1,709
1,724
3,433

1,263
1,791
3,054

1.80
2.94
2.54

1.47
2.38
1.97

1.45
2.32
2.00

Other
Steaks .................................
Nuggets ...............................
Other ...................................
Total ....................................

101
2,389
669
3,159

124
2,468
900
3,492

96
2,329
701
3,126

3.32
1.47
4.11
2.09

2.75
1.45
3.59
2.05

2.78
1.47
3.35
1.93

Fillets .......................................

8,331

9,079

9,369

4.37

3.33

3.29

Total fresh and frozen fish .......

14,447

16,004

15,549

3.50

2.76

2.77

1
2

For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions section of this report.
Gross value FOB plant.

Catfish Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Processed Farm-Raised Catfish Ending Inventory by Month – United States: 2012 and 2013
Item 1

Ending inventory
February 2012

January 2013

February 2013

(1,000 pounds)

Fresh fish
Whole
Round and gutted ....................................................
Whole dressed .........................................................
Total .........................................................................

(D)
(D)
155

(D)
(D)
204

(D)
(D)
182

Other
Steaks ......................................................................
Nuggets ...................................................................
Other ........................................................................
Total .........................................................................

(D)
48
(D)
56

(D)
72
(D)
79

(D)
55
(D)
60

Fillets ...........................................................................

316

332

331

Total fresh ....................................................................

527

615

573

Frozen fish
Whole dressed .............................................................

372

690

693

(D)
1,274
(D)
1,684

(D)
647
(D)
1,087

(D)
649
(D)
1,075

Fillets ...........................................................................

9,298

5,458

4,777

Total frozen ..................................................................

11,354

7,235

6,545

Fresh and frozen fish
Whole
Round and gutted ....................................................
Whole dressed .........................................................
Total .........................................................................

(D)
(D)
527

(D)
(D)
894

(D)
(D)
875

(D)
1,322
(D)
1,740

(D)
719
(D)
1,166

(D)
704
(D)
1,135

Fillets ...........................................................................

9,614

5,790

5,108

Total fresh and frozen fish ............................................

11,881

7,850

7,118

(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 Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Catfish Imports by Month – United States: 2012-2013
[Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
Imports
Total 1

Ictalurus spp.
Month
2012
(1,000 pounds)
January ...............................
February ..............................
March ..................................
April .....................................
May .....................................
June ....................................
July ......................................
August .................................
September ...........................
October ...............................
November ............................
December ............................
1

2013 as
percent
of 2012

2013
(1,000 pounds)

2,028
1,317
528
534
345
352
73
84
202
202
331
432

(percent)

861

2012

2013

2013 as
percent
of 2012

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

25,551
15,238
15,280
19,756
20,100
18,847
22,604
23,655
22,868
20,217
19,220
14,062

19,369

Includes freshwater imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes.

Catfish Exports by Month – United States: 2012-2013
[Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun]
Exports
Fresh

Frozen

Month

January ...............................
February ..............................
March ..................................
April .....................................
May .....................................
June ....................................
July ......................................
August .................................
September ...........................
October ...............................
November ............................
December ............................

2012

2013

2013 as
percent
of 2012

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

85.2
120.2
129.5
234.5
83.6
82.7
114.1
95.2
113.5
141.2
64.9
79.0

Catfish Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

377.3

443

2012

2013

2013 as
percent
of 2012

(1,000 pounds)

(percent)

2.7
11.1
68.0
29.7
4.6
10.9
5.3
5.5
57.7
8.5
49.2
22.6

46.0

1,704

Statistical Methodology
Survey Procedures: Survey data for catfish processing are collected from approximately 17 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 (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.
Estimating Procedures: The Catfish Processing report refers strictly to farm-raised fish and excludes wild captured 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.
Carolina Classics Catfish, LLC
Consolidated Catfish Producers, LLC
Delta Supreme Fish Processors
Fish Breeders of Idaho, Inc.
Freshwater Farms Products, LLC
Guidry Catfish, Inc.
Haring’s Pride Catfish
Harvest Select Catfish, Inc.

Heartland Catfish
Lake’s Farm Raised Catfish, Inc.
Pride of the Pond
Prime Line, Inc.
Seabrook Seafood, Inc.
Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, Inc.
SouthFresh Farms
Superior Fish Products

Catfish Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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 [email protected]
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3570
Bruce Boess, Head, Poultry and Specialty Commodities Section .................................................................. (202) 720-4447
Cody Brokmeyer – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised .............................................. (202) 690-3237
David Colwell – Cold Storage .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-8784
LaKeya Jones – Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production,
Census of Aquaculture, Honey, Mink ................................................................................................. (202) 720-0585
Dawn Keen – Egg Products ...................................................................................................................... (202) 720-4448
Kim Linonis – Layers, Eggs ..................................................................................................................... (202) 690-8632
Miste Salmon – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery .............................................................................. (202) 720-3244

Catfish Processing (March 2013)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Catfish Processing 03/20/2013
Author	USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
File Modified	2013-03-20
File Created	2013-03-20