April 23, 2008

US catfish processing up 8 percent on-year
 

US processed 49 million net pounds of farm-raised catfish in March, up 8 percent from March 2007.

Average price paid to producers was 74.5 cents per pound, up 5.7 cents from February but down 9.3 cents from a year ago.

About 24.1 million pounds of processed fish were sold in March, up 3 percent from March 2007.

Sales of fresh fish remained at 8.8 million pounds, accounting for 37 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales were up 5 percent to 15.3 million pounds from a year ago, accounting for the remaining 63 percent of total fish sales.

Sales of whole fish represented 17 percent of total fish sold. Fillets accounted for 61 percent while steaks, nuggets and value added products accounted for the remaining 22 percent.

Total end of the month inventory went down 5 percent from February, and down 44 percent from the previous year.

Average price paid to processors in March for total fresh fish was US$2.33 per pound, down 22 cents from last year. Fresh whole fish were priced at US$1.56 per pound, down 15 cents from last year. Prices for fresh fillets were US$2.96 per pound, down 31 cents from a year ago, while frozen fillets were at US$2.78 per pound, down 33 cents.

Total frozen fish averaged US$2.39 per pound and frozen whole dressed fish averaged US$2.12 per pound, down 14 cents and 8 cents respectively from March 2007.