U.S. farm-raised catfish acreage decreased by 2% from 24,000 hectares in 2021 to 23,525 hectares in 2022. U.S. acreage has decreased by 70% since its high of 79,600 hectares in 2002. The primary factors associated with this decrease are high feed costs, low fish prices, market disruptions, and increased competition from cheaper imports.
American catfish producers continue to improve production efficiencies (Figure 1). As recently as 2009, gross yield was only 4,332 kg/ha. Producers were yielding 7,271 kg/ha in 2021. The primary technologies leading to these increases are hybrid catfish (channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus females X blue catfish Ictalurus furcatus males), improved production systems like intensively-aerated small ponds and split-ponds, and improved fish health treatments such as vaccines and rapid diagnostic tools.
Feed prices continue to increase. Prices for 32% floating catfish feed in September 2022 were up 17% from the 2021 average price and 47% from the 2020 average price.
During the first 10 months of 2022, the U.S. imported 132,588 mt of Siluriformes products. If this trend holds for the remaining of 2022, 73% of the Siluriformes products consumed in the U.S. are imported.