Aq 1 (8-09) Catfish Processing National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released August 18, 2009, 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 Down 4 Percent from Last Year Farm-raised catfish processed during July 2009 totaled 41.0 million pounds round weight, down 4 percent from July 2008. The average price paid to producers was 77.1 cents per pound for July 2009, up 0.8 cent from last month but 4.7 cents below a year ago. Net pounds of processed fish sold during July 2009 totaled 19.5 million pounds, down 8 percent from the comparable month in 2008. The total end of the month inventory increased 7 percent from last month but was down 14 percent from a year ago. Sales of fresh fish, at 6.88 million pounds, were down 4 percent from July 2008 and represented 35 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 12.6 million pounds, were down 10 percent from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 65 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish represented 17 percent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 61 percent, and the remaining 22 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The July 2009 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.48 per pound, down 8 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.66 per pound, down 2 cents from July 2008. Prices for fresh fillets were down 4 cents from a year ago at $3.21 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.51 per pound, up 4 cents from July 2008. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish at $2.17 and frozen fillets at $2.94 per pound were both down 1 cent from a year ago. Freshwater imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for June 2009 totaled 10.6 million pounds, down 6 percent from the amount imported in June 2008. Imports were from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Panama, Spain, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 1.09 million pounds, which were from China, Mexico, Panama, and Thailand. Fresh, boneless catfish fillet exports totaled 63.8 thousand pounds, with 41.3 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest going to China. Exports of frozen, boneless catfish fillets reported for June 2009 totaled 21.4 thousand pounds, going to Aruba, the Bahamas, Guatemala, and the Netherlands. 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, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Round Weight Processed :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative : Price per Pound 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : : : : : :Change : : :Pct of : : :Pct of : : : from Month: 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent ------ Dollars ------ : Jan :45,992 36,406 79 45,992 36,406 79 0.658 0.810 0.152 Feb :47,634 37,702 79 93,626 74,108 79 0.688 0.770 0.082 Mar :47,908 44,912 94 141,534 119,020 84 0.743 0.773 0.030 Apr :45,018 40,768 91 186,552 159,788 86 0.757 0.763 0.006 May :44,326 39,925 90 230,878 199,713 87 0.776 0.762 -0.014 Jun 2/:43,265 39,370 91 274,143 239,083 87 0.794 0.763 -0.031 Jul :42,583 40,966 96 316,726 280,049 88 0.818 0.771 -0.047 Aug :40,985 357,711 0.827 Sep :39,057 396,768 0.827 Oct :43,344 440,112 0.825 Nov :36,869 476,981 0.823 Dec :32,616 509,597 0.821 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2009 data only. Catfish Processors: Sales Volume and Average Price by Month, United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Sales : Average : Volume : Price 2/ Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : Jul : Jun : Jul : Jul : Jun : Jul : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Pounds ------ --- Dollars per Pound -- : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,322 1,117 1,121 1.23 1.12 1.16 Whole Dressed : 1,230 1,429 1,461 2.07 2.00 1.99 Total : 2,552 2,546 2,582 1.68 1.64 1.66 : Other : Steaks : 86 81 83 2.43 2.44 2.44 Nuggets : 481 635 525 1.41 1.40 1.38 Other : 86 67 38 3.45 3.46 3.52 Total : 653 783 646 1.81 1.68 1.64 : Fillets : 3,943 3,621 3,649 3.25 3.22 3.21 : Total Fresh : 7,148 6,950 6,877 2.56 2.47 2.48 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 865 763 777 2.18 2.19 2.17 : Other : Steaks : 64 64 53 2.29 2.31 2.35 Nuggets : 3,110 2,296 2,659 1.07 1.15 1.13 Other : 1,067 756 812 2.80 2.90 2.93 Total : 4,241 3,116 3,524 1.52 1.60 1.56 : Fillets : 8,912 8,188 8,273 2.95 2.91 2.94 : Total Frozen : 14,018 12,067 12,574 2.47 2.53 2.51 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : 1,322 1,117 1,121 1.23 1.12 1.16 Whole Dressed : 2,095 2,192 2,238 2.12 2.07 2.05 Total : 3,417 3,309 3,359 1.80 1.77 1.78 : Other : Steaks : 150 145 136 2.37 2.38 2.40 Nuggets : 3,591 2,931 3,184 1.12 1.20 1.17 Other : 1,153 823 850 2.85 2.95 2.96 Total : 4,894 3,899 4,170 1.56 1.62 1.58 : Fillets : 12,855 11,809 11,922 3.04 3.01 3.02 : Total Fresh & Frozen: 21,166 19,017 19,451 2.50 2.51 2.50 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ For further detail, please refer to the terms and definitions section of this report. 2/ Gross value f.o.b. plant. Catfish Processors: Ending Inventory by Month, United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ending Inventory Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------- : Jul 2008 : Jun 2009 : Jul 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds : Fresh Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 168 171 134 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 100 94 107 Other : * * * Total : 107 100 111 : Fillets : 499 493 461 : Total Fresh : 774 764 706 : Frozen Fish : Whole Dressed : 1,281 436 464 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 1,364 1,342 1,326 Other : * * * Total : 2,611 1,992 2,238 : Fillets : 8,491 7,349 7,915 : Total Frozen : 12,383 9,777 10,617 : Fresh & Frozen Fish : Whole : Round & Gutted : * * * Whole Dressed : * * * Total : 1,449 607 598 : Other : Steaks : * * * Nuggets : 1,464 1,436 1,433 Other : * * * Total : 2,718 2,092 2,349 : Fillets : 8,990 7,842 8,376 : Total Fresh & Frozen : 13,157 10,541 11,323 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * 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, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Imports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ictalurus spp. : Total 2/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent -- 1,000 Pounds -- Percent : Jan : 2,944 2,344 80 9,666 9,819 102 Feb : 2,575 1,225 48 9,603 6,527 68 Mar : 2,040 972 48 7,884 8,942 113 Apr : 3,040 1,364 45 10,492 8,548 81 May : 2,864 1,659 58 10,151 11,592 114 Jun : 1,758 1,088 62 11,299 10,577 94 Jul : 1,202 8,674 Aug : 1,315 6,994 Sep : 987 6,462 Oct : 579 7,188 Nov : 1,374 6,198 Dec : 2,425 7,817 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Exports 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Frozen :----------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent : : : Percent : : : of : : : of Month : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Pounds Percent 1,000 Pounds Percent : Jan : 134.6 87.0 65 23.1 0.0 Feb : 71.6 65.1 91 0.0 0.0 Mar : 106.3 65.1 61 11.9 50.6 425 Apr : 72.3 47.5 66 1.2 12.8 1,067 May : 57.0 79.1 139 0.0 14.2 Jun : 71.0 63.8 90 10.9 21.4 196 Jul : 52.1 14.6 Aug : 62.9 12.0 Sep : 62.6 3.5 Oct : 74.6 8.0 Nov : 122.6 1.2 Dec : 74.4 7.3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 David Colwell - Cold Storage...................................(202) 720-8784 Chris Hawthorn - Catfish Processing, Catfish Production, Trout Production, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Mink..(202) 720-0585 Sharyn Lavender - Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery, Honey....(202) 720-3244 Kim Linonis - Layers, Eggs.....................................(202) 690-8632 Troy Marshall - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised...............................................(202) 690-3237 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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