Catfish Processing ISSN: 1948-2701 Released January 22, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Catfish Processing Up Slightly from Last Year Farm-raised catfish processed during December 2012 totaled 22.7 million pounds round weight, up slightly from December 2011. The average price paid to producers was 83.0 cents per pound for December 2012, up 0.8 cent from last month but 42.1 cents below a year ago. Net pounds of processed fish sold during December 2012 totaled 12.7 million pounds, up 12 percent from the comparable month in 2011. Sales of fresh fish, at 4.65 million pounds, were up 11 percent from December 2011 and represented 37 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales, at 8.06 million pounds, were up 13 percent from a year ago and accounted for the remaining 63 percent of total fish sales. Sales of whole fish represented 22 percent of the total fish sold, fillets accounted for 58 percent, and the remaining 20 percent were mostly steaks, nuggets, and value added products. The total end of the month inventory decreased 4 percent from last month and was down 25 percent from a year ago. The total fresh and frozen average price for December 2012 was $2.79, down 73 cents from a year ago. The December 2012 average price received by processors for total fresh fish was $2.59 per pound, down 88 cents from last year. Prices for fresh whole fish were $1.78 per pound, down 67 cents from December 2011. Prices for fresh fillets were down $1.05 from a year ago at $3.73 per pound. Total frozen fish averaged $2.91 per pound, down 64 cents from December 2011. Prices for frozen whole dressed fish were down 33 cents at $2.78 and frozen fillets at $3.17 per pound were down $1.12 from a year ago. Imports for consumption of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for November 2012 totaled 19.2 million pounds, down 14 percent from the amount imported in November 2011. Imports were from Brazil, China, Japan, and Vietnam. The Ictalurus spp. imports totaled 331 thousand pounds, which were from China. Fresh catfish fillet exports totaled 64.9 thousand pounds, with 49.4 thousand pounds going to Canada and the rest going to the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Islands of Turks and Caicos, and United Arab Emirates. Exports of frozen catfish fillets reported for November 2012 totaled 49.2 thousand pounds, going to the Bahamas, China, and St. Maarten. 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: 2011-2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Round weight processed :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Monthly : Cumulative : Price per pound 1/ :------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : :2012 as: : :2012 as: : :Change : : :percent: : :percent: : : from Month : 2011 : 2012 :of 2011: 2011 : 2012 :of 2011: 2011 : 2012 : 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent ------ dollars ------ : January ...:35,076 25,843 74 35,076 25,843 74 0.931 1.248 0.317 February ..:27,782 26,950 97 62,858 52,793 84 1.003 1.229 0.226 March .....:30,372 28,098 93 93,230 80,891 87 1.075 1.201 0.126 April .....:23,605 22,463 95 116,835 103,354 88 1.141 1.167 0.026 May .......:24,749 25,009 101 141,584 128,363 91 1.169 1.038 -0.131 June ......:24,337 23,938 98 165,921 152,301 92 1.231 0.934 -0.297 July ......:26,595 25,056 94 192,516 177,357 92 1.252 0.843 -0.409 August ....:30,680 24,886 81 223,196 202,243 91 1.277 0.798 -0.479 September .:30,271 24,535 81 253,467 226,778 89 1.275 0.793 -0.482 October ...:32,264 28,596 89 285,731 255,374 89 1.262 0.803 -0.459 November ..:25,814 22,124 86 311,545 277,498 89 1.257 0.822 -0.435 December ..:22,598 22,653 100 334,143 300,151 90 1.251 0.830 -0.421 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: 2011 and 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Sales volume : Average price 2/ Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : December : November : December : December : November : December : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : ------------ 1,000 pounds ------------ ------------- dollars per pound ------------ : Fresh fish : Whole : Round and gutted ...........: 936 1,212 1,309 1.81 1.40 1.37 Whole dressed ..............: 942 992 986 2.97 2.19 2.21 Total ......................: 1,878 2,204 2,295 2.45 1.81 1.78 : Other : Steaks .....................: 40 50 48 3.63 2.83 2.84 Nuggets ....................: 357 354 361 1.87 1.53 1.54 Other ......................: 23 18 16 4.80 4.30 4.47 Total ......................: 420 422 425 2.20 1.80 1.80 : Fillets ......................: 1,877 1,913 1,934 4.78 3.73 3.73 : Total fresh ..................: 4,175 4,539 4,654 3.47 2.62 2.59 : Frozen fish : Whole dressed ................: 434 519 453 3.11 2.73 2.78 : Other : Steaks .....................: 33 38 40 3.30 2.65 2.61 Nuggets ....................: 1,654 1,516 1,243 1.40 1.40 1.41 Other ......................: 704 1,143 819 4.38 3.74 3.55 Total ......................: 2,391 2,697 2,102 2.30 2.41 2.27 : Fillets ......................: 4,321 5,597 5,507 4.29 3.21 3.17 : Total frozen .................: 7,146 8,813 8,062 3.55 2.94 2.91 : Fresh and frozen fish : Whole : Round and gutted ...........: 936 1,212 1,309 1.81 1.40 1.37 Whole dressed ..............: 1,376 1,511 1,439 3.01 2.38 2.39 Total ......................: 2,312 2,723 2,748 2.58 1.98 1.94 : Other : Steaks .....................: 73 88 88 3.48 2.75 2.74 Nuggets ....................: 2,011 1,870 1,604 1.48 1.42 1.44 Other ......................: 727 1,161 835 4.39 3.75 3.57 Total ......................: 2,811 3,119 2,527 2.29 2.33 2.19 : Fillets ......................: 6,198 7,510 7,441 4.44 3.34 3.32 : Total fresh and frozen fish ..: 11,321 13,352 12,716 3.52 2.83 2.79 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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: 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Ending inventory Item 1/ :----------------------------------------------------- : December 2011 : November 2012 : December 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds : Fresh fish : Whole : Round and gutted .............: (D) (D) (D) Whole dressed ................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 76 95 78 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 46 51 55 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 59 57 56 : Fillets ........................: 331 254 978 : Total fresh ....................: 466 406 1,112 : Frozen fish : Whole dressed ..................: 464 761 666 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 1,761 820 927 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 2,290 1,413 1,519 : Fillets ........................: 9,683 7,516 6,380 : Total frozen ...................: 12,437 9,690 8,565 : Fresh and frozen fish : Whole : Round and gutted .............: (D) (D) (D) Whole dressed ................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 540 856 744 : Other : Steaks .......................: (D) (D) (D) Nuggets ......................: 1,807 871 982 Other ........................: (D) (D) (D) Total ........................: 2,349 1,470 1,575 : Fillets ........................: 10,014 7,770 7,358 : Total fresh and frozen fish ....: 12,903 10,096 9,677 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2011-2012 [Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Imports :----------------------------------------------------------- : Ictalurus spp. : Total 1/ :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2012 as : : : 2012 as : : : percent : : : percent Month : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent : January .......: 1,301 2,028 156 16,276 25,551 157 February ......: 1,015 1,317 130 13,790 15,238 111 March .........: 211 528 250 9,133 15,280 167 April .........: 216 534 247 13,325 19,756 148 May ...........: 113 345 305 16,314 20,100 123 June ..........: 11 352 3,200 14,643 18,847 129 July ..........: 19 73 384 18,034 22,604 125 August ........: 39 84 215 18,383 23,655 129 September .....: 171 202 118 18,576 22,868 123 October .......: 838 202 24 20,335 20,217 99 November ......: 1,372 331 24 22,262 19,220 86 December ......: 2,113 22,608 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes freshwater imports for consumption of "Ictalurus" spp., "Pangasius" spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes. Catfish Exports by Month - United States: 2011-2012 [Data compiled by the United States Census Bureau. Blank data cells indicate estimation period has not yet begun] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Exports :----------------------------------------------------------- : Fresh : Frozen :----------------------------------------------------------- : : : 2012 as : : : 2012 as : : : percent : : : percent Month : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 pounds percent 1,000 pounds percent : January .......: 53.9 85.2 158 10.2 2.7 26 February ......: 56.7 120.2 212 13.2 11.1 84 March .........: 42.3 129.5 306 2.2 68.0 3,091 April .........: 38.7 234.5 606 - 29.7 (X) May ...........: 41.0 83.6 204 3.0 4.6 153 June ..........: 38.0 82.7 218 1.8 10.9 606 July ..........: 150.0 114.1 76 7.8 5.3 68 August ........: 72.7 95.2 131 - 5.5 (X) September .....: 29.4 113.5 386 1.1 57.7 5,245 October .......: 55.9 141.2 253 3.6 8.5 236 November ......: 42.7 64.9 152 2.7 49.2 1,822 December ......: 51.4 3.6 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Represents zero. (X) Not applicable. 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. Heartland Catfish Carolina Classics Catfish, LLC Lake's Farm Raised Catfish, Inc. Consolidated Catfish Producers, LLC Pride of the Pond Delta Supreme Fish Processors Prime Line, Inc. Fish Breeders of Idaho, Inc. Seabrook Seafood, Inc. Freshwater Farms Products, LLC Simmons Farm Raised Catfish, Inc. Guidry Catfish, Inc. SouthFresh Farms Harings Pride Catfish *Superior Fish Products Harvest Select Catfish, Inc. *Estimated 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 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 .................... 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