The U.S. produced a more catfish in 2022 compared to the previous year, and recorded higher sales by value.
The USDA released its 2022 catfish production report on 10 February, showing catfish growers in the United States reached cumulative total sales of USD 447 million (EUR 418 million), a 5 percent increase from 2021, when total sales were USD 427 million (EUR 399 million).
The top four U.S. states in terms of sales were Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Texas. Together, they accounted for 96 percent of the country’s total sales, the USDA stated in a press release.
Total U.S. foodsize catfish sales reached, USD 442 million (EUR 413 million) in 2022, a 5 percent from 2021. Direct sales of foodsize fish to processors accounted for 93.7 percent of total foodsize fish sales, up 1.6 percent from 2021.
In 2022, sales of stockers totaled USD 10.6 million (EUR 9.9 million), up from USD 8.37 million (EUR 7.83 million) sold in 2021.
Despite higher production, the USDA reported that overall water usage for catfish production was lower in 2022 than 2021.
In total, the overall water surface area used for catfish production was 55,855 acres as of 1 January, down 4 percent 3 from 58,300 acres. One of the total, 2,385 acres are to be renovated in 2023, from January to June. The USDA said in a press released that an additional 135 acres are under construction or expected to be usable by 1 July, 2023.
Catfish producers also had 890 thousand broodfish on hand as of 1 January, 2023, a 22 percent increase from 1 January, 2022. The inventory of medium foodsize fish was down 2 percent, and small foodsize fish was down 19 percent. There were 281 million fingerlings on hand 1 January 2023, a decrease of 1 percent from 1 January, 2022.
Photo courtesy of Heartland Catfish
