US catfish processing up 21 percent as prices slide and imports surge
US processing of farm-raised catfish in June 2008 is up 21 percent from the same month last year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The agency reported that 45.2 million pounds (20,502 tonnes) of US farm-raised catfish was processed in June 2008.
Processed fish sold during June 2008 stands at 22.4 million pounds (10,160 tonnes), up 15 percent from last June.
Fresh fish sales accounted for 38 percent of total fish sales at 8.44 million pounds (3,828 tonnes), an increase of 19 percent from June 2007. The remaining 62 percent came from frozen fish, which sold 14 million pounds (6,350 tonnes), up 13 percent from a year ago, according to NASS.
Price-wise, producers were paid 79.3 cents per pound of fish, 2.4 cents lower than last year. However, it is a 1.9-cent increase as compared to last month.
Meanwhile, freshwater imports of Ictalurus spp., Pangasius spp., and other catfish of the order Siluriformes for May 2008 totaled 10.2 million pounds, up 87 percent from May 2007. Imports were from Cambodia, Chile, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Spain, Thailand and others.
Prices of catfish received by processors for June 2008 | ||
  |
Price per pound |
Change from June 2007 (US$) |
(US$) | ||
Total fresh fish |
2.48 |
-0.04 |
Fresh whole fish |
1.65 |
-0.06 |
Fresh fish fillet |
3.07 |
-0.19 |
Total frozen fish |
2.46 |
-0.06 |
Frozen whole-dressed fish |
2.15 |
-0.05 |
Frozen fillet |
2.92 |
-0.06 |