March 27, 2008

US February catfish processing up 8 percent year-on-year
 

Farm-raised catfish processed in February 2008 totalled 47.6 million pounds in weight, up 8 percent from 2007, while processor prices went down, according to a report by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of US.

Net pounds of processed fish sold in February 2008 totalled 25 million pounds, up 9 percent year-on-year.

Catfish inventory at the end of February decreased 14 percent from January, and down 37 percent from a year ago.

About 9.3 million pounds of fresh fish were sold, up 16 percent year-on-year, and accounting for 37 percent of total sales. Frozen fish sales were up 5 percent at 15.7 million pounds from a year ago, accounting for 63 percent of total fish sales.

Whole fish sales accounted for 18 percent of total sales; fillets representing 60 percent and the remaining 22 percent were of steaks, nuggets, and various value-added products.

Processors have earned less in February 2008 as processing prices went down. The average price received by processors for total fresh fish was US$2.2 per pound, down 35 cents from last year.

Prices for fresh whole fish decreased by 27 cents to US$1.5; fresh fillet prices fell 36 cents to US$2.9 per pound; frozen fish prices dropped 14 cents to US$2.3 per pound; frozen whole dressed fish prices decreased 20 cents to US$2.07; and frozen fillets prices were down 35 cents to US$2.7.

However, the average price paid to producers have increased by 3 cents from January to 68.8 cents, but which is a drop of 15 cents from a year ago.

Meanwhile, US catfish imports in January 2008 totalled 9.6 million pounds, down 20 percent year-on-year.

Fresh boneless catfish fillet exports totalled 135,000 pounds, with 74,600 pounds shipped to Canada and the remaining to Germany and the Netherlands. Frozen boneless catfish fillets for January 2008 totalled 231,000 pounds, which were all shipped to the Netherlands.