Current Industrial Reports
U.S. Department of Commerce
Economics and Statistics Administration
Bureau of the Census

Insulated Wire and Cable - 1997

MA33L (97)-1
Issued October 6, 1998

Information about the scope of the survey, methodology, explanation of terms and historical 
notes for this survey may be found in introduction of the 1996 Manufacturing Profiles,
issued July 1998.

Obtaining reports:  Current data are released electronically on Internet for all individual
surveys as they become available.  Use http://www.census.gov/econ/www/manumenu.html.  
Individual reports can be accessed by choosing "Current Industrial Reports (CIR's)," clicking
on "Report Number Index;" from the "Industrial Products by Numeric Index," choose the survey 
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These data are also available through the U.S. Department of Commerce and STAT-USA
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prompts to register.  Also, you may call 202-482-1986 or 1-800-STAT-USA, for further
information.  The Internet address is: stat-usa.gov/.

For mail or fax copies of the publication, contact the Manufacturing and Construction Division
Information Center, 301-457-4673.

Address inquires concerning these data to U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census,
Manufacturing and Construction Division, Washington, DC 20233, or call Mary W. Ellickson, 
301-457-4736; e-mail Mary W. Ellickson@ccmail.census.gov/.


Summary of Findings:  In 1997, the total value of manufactures' shipments of insulated wire and
cable increased by 7 percent to $19,540 million from $18,234 million in 1996.  Copper insulated
wire and cable increased by 9 percent to $11,169 from the 1996 level of $10,225 million.  In 
1997 aluminum insulated wire and cable increased by 2 percent to $3,962 from the 1996 level of 
$3,892 million.  Copper magnet wire decreased by 2 percent from the 1996 level of $1,238 
million to $1,215 in 1997.  Aluminum magnet wire increased by 11 percent in 1997 to $133 
million from the 1996 level of $120 million.  In 1997 Insulated optical fiber cable increased 
by 7 percent to $1,852 million from the $1,728 million in 1996.  Optical cable increased by 17
percent in 1997 to $1,210 million from the 1996 level of $1,031 million.


Table 1.  Summary of Shipments of Insulated Wire and Cable:  1997 and 1996
[Value in thousands of dollars]

  Product
   code                Product description                   1997        1996

          Insulated wire and cable  . . . . . . . . .  19,539,959  18,234,251

3357A --    Electronic wire and cable  . . . . . . .    2,747,996   2,544,194
3357B --    Telephone and telegraph wire and cable  .   2,224,550   2,075,275
33578 --    Power wire and cable  . . . . . . . . . .   1,561,193   1,487,776
33578 6-    Portable power cable  . . . . . . . . . .      70,573      95,276
3357C --    Control and signal wire and cable  . . .      280,368     247,658
3357D --    Building wire and cable  . . . . . . . .    2,933,996   2,492,797
33576 --    Apparatus wire and cordage  . . . . . . .     810,254     812,295
3357E --    Other insulated wire and cable  . . . . .     539,779     469,657
3357- pt.   Aluminum insulated wire and cable  . . .    3,962,426   3,891,547
33577 --    Magnet wire  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1,347,539   1,358,975
33579 --    Insulated optical fiber cable  . . . . .    1,851,613   1,727,980
32318 --    Optical fiber   . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1,209,672   1,030,821

      pt.  Part.


Table 2.  Shipments of Copper Insulated Wire and Cable:  1997 and 1996
[Shipments in  thousands of pounds.   Value in thousands of dollars]

                                                                 Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

                                                                        1997                       1996
                       Product description
                                                          No.                           No.
 Product                                                   of      Copper                of     Copper
    code                                                 cos.  content 2/       Value  cos. content 2/         Value

3357- pt.  Insulated wire and cable (except magnet wire
            and optical wire). . . . . . . . . . . . . . (NA)   2,810,090  11,168,709  (NA)  2,561,191    10,224,928
3357A --   Electronic wire and cable .  .  . . . . . . .   82     235,747   2,747,996    85    202,491     2,544,194
             Coaxial cable, armored or unarmored:
3357A 10       Rigid   .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     4         640       4,383     4     r/ 624      r/ 4,547
3357A 12       Semi rigid   .  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14      31,339     479,532    14     26,748       460,868
                Flexible:
3357A 13           135 C and over  .  . . . . . . . . .    13       3,779      66,793    13      3,714        59,116
3357A 14           Under 135 C   .  . . . . . . . . . .    28      27,635     419,666    28     23,649       401,491
3357A 16     CATV/broad cast coaxial cable   . .  . . .     7         (D)         (D)     7        (D)           (D)
3357A 22     Antenna lead-in wire  .  . . . . . . . . .     7         (D)         (D)     6        (D)           (D)
             Hookup wire (single conductor, shielded
              and non-shielded):
3357A 23       135 C and over  temperature rating    .     24      19,033     247,814    25     12,014    r/ 188,451
3357A 25       Under 135 C temperature rating  . . . . .   39      20,000     103,505    40     17,024        83,353
             Multiconductor electronic wire and cable
              (shielded and non-shielded):
3357A 30       Flat and ribbon cable  . . . . . . . . .    21       8,297      97,031    21   r/ 6,933     r/ 82,245
               Other multiconductor electronic wire
                and cable:
                 Shielded:
3357A 31           135 C and over temperature  . . . . .   18      32,308     252,888    19     26,445       233,282
3357A 33           Under 135 C temperature rating  . . .   33      33,151     277,797    35  r/ 31,126       244,941
                 Non shielded:
3357A 35           135 C and over temperature rating  .    11      11,320     127,869    12     10,504       115,663
3357A 37           Under 135 C temperature rating  . . .   29      34,414     206,935    31     33,314       201,120
3357B --   Telephone and telegraph wire and cable  . . .   28     501,335   2,224,550    30    497,063     2,075,275
3357B 41     Jumper and distributing frame wire  . . . .    7         (D)         (D)     7        (D)           (D)
3357B 43     Station wire and cable   . . . . . . . . .    15      19,380     156,006    17  r/ 17,299    r/ 129,317
3357B 48     Telephone cord sets and cordage  . . . . .     5         (D)         (D)     5        (D)           (D)
3357B 52     Inside wiring cable  . . . . . . . . . . .    18      79,428     488,474    19     74,256       440,381
3357B 55     Drop and bridle and duct wire  . . . . . .     4      55,049     218,508     4     49,028       195,854
3357B 68     Rural and urban distribution wire and
              cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3         (D)         (D)     3        (D)           (D)
3357B 73     Polyethylene covered exchange area
              and toll cable (PIC and PULP
              insulated)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     7     283,302   1,004,244     8    297,067       983,719
3357B 90     Other telephone and telegraph wire
              and cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8         (D)         (D)     7        (D)           (D)
33578 --   Power wire and cable  . . . . . . . . . . . .   24     267,344   1,561,193    25 r/ 266,342  r/ 1,487,776

33578 07     Paper insulated cable (all voltages,
              all types). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     2         (D)         (D)     2        (D)           (D)
               Plastic and rubber insulated:
                 600 volts or less:
33578 08           Portable welding cable  . . . . . . .    7      14,811      42,368     7  r/ 15,368     r/ 44,615
33578 17           Underground distribution cable
                    (UD, URD). . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8       7,470     297,569    10      7,443       274,393
33578 19           Thermoplastic insulated power cable     10      16,532      47,204    12     17,826        46,326
                   Thermoset insulated:
33578 20             Armored, rubber and cross linked  .    6       9,674      28,606     6      9,476        27,603
33578 21             Unarmored, rubber  . . . . . . . .     6      34,712     136,482     7     34,609       129,145
33578 22             Unarmored, cross linked  . . . . .     8      11,230      34,528     9     14,904        40,098
33578 23             Rubber (R, RH, RHH, RHW, USE,
                      etc.)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2         (D)         (D)     3        (D)           (D)
33578 25         Weatherproof cable  . . . . . . . . . .    5         (D)         (D)     4        (D)           (D)
                 Service drop cable:
33578 27           Thermoset insulated  . . . . . . . .     4         (D)         (D)     3        (D)           (D)
33578 28           Thermoplastic insulated    . . . . .     3         (D)         (D)     3        (D)           (D)
                 Over 600  volts:
33578 37           Underground distribution cable
                    (UD, URD), all insulations
                    (jacketed and unjacketed)  . . . . .    7      55,664     376,563     7     50,738       333,325
33578 39           Thermoplastic insulated power
                     cable,  excluding underground  . .     5         (D)         (D)     5        (D)           (D)
                   Thermoset insulated power cable,
                     excluding underground  over 600
                     volts to 15 kV:
33578 41               Armored, rubber and cross-linked     6      13,242      58,222     7     15,247        59,439
33578 42               Unarmored, rubber  . . . . . . .     7      48,897     160,618     7     48,176       187,249
33578 43               Unarmored, cross-linked  . . . .     7      16,792      55,710     8     15,661        49,843
33578 44             Over 15 kV (rubber and cross-
                      linked)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5       5,028      34,817     4      4,453        32,716
33578 50       Other power wire and cable   . . . . . .     8      13,341      99,987     7  r/ 12,874     r/ 84,568
33578 6-   Portable power cable  . . . . . . . . . . . .    7      19,700      70,573     8  r/ 24,311     r/ 95,276
33578 61     2 kV or less   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6         (D)         (D)     8  r/ 16,273     r/ 67,051
             Over 2 kV:
33578 62       Portable cross linked jacketed cable
                (mine shovel cable). . . . . . . . . . .    3         (D)         (D)     4        (D)           (D)
33578 63       Portable non-cross linked jacketed
                cable  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   33         (D)         (D)     2        (D)           (D)

3357C --   Control and signal  wire  . . . . . . . . . .   27      43,349     280,368    28     39,608       247,658
3357C 11     Signal wire and cable  . . . . . . . . . .    16      16,584     155,996    17     14,813       132,092
             Control wire and cable, excluding
              elevator cable:
3357C 14       Thermoset insulated  . . . . . . . . . .     9       9,518      51,286     9   r/ 9,128        51,875
3357C 17       Thermoplastic insulated  . . . . . . . .    18      17,247      73,086    18     15,667        63,691
3357D --   Building wire and cable  . . . . . . . . . .    23   1,389,773   2,933,996    24  1,172,301  r/ 2,492,797
             Building wire and cable having
              underwriters' labels:
               Thermoset insulated:
3357D 37         Cross-linked polyethylene (XHHW)  . . .   12      43,102     129,196    13  r/ 45,994    r/ 111,589
3357D 38         Cross-linked polyethylene (USE)  . . .    11      17,521      57,480    10  r/ 19,198     r/ 51,488
               Thermoplastic insulated
3357D 40         Flame-retardant nylon (THHN,
                  THWN)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17     813,346   1,538,579    16    621,538  r/ 1,254,588
3357D 49         Moisture and heat resistant (TW, THW)     12       3,979       8,479    12   r/ 4,224     r/  8,484
3357D 51       Service entrance cable (SER, SEU, ASE)  .    8       8,212     109,570     8      8,694        97,610
               Nonmetallic branch-circuit and under-
                ground feeder:
3357D 54         Type NM-B  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     6     395,131     784,940     7    363,851       677,933
3357D 55         Type UF and NMC (corrosion
                  resistant)  . . . . . . . . . . . . .     8      42,810      91,183     9     40,425        82,535
3357D 57       Metallic armored cable (all AC types)  .    10      56,085     184,773    10     49,653       164,368
3357D 58        Other building wire and cable  . . . . .   10       9,587      29,796    10     18,724        44,202
33576 --   Apparatus wire and cordage 3/  . . . . . . .    45     210,627     810,254    45    209,566       812,295
             Flexible cordage:
33576 13       Thermoset insulated  . . . . . . . . . .    10      13,894      65,953     9  r/ 10,935     r/ 46,597
33576 15       Thermoplastic,  including thermoplastic
                elastomers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    16      31,255      64,074    15  r/ 30,692        62,866
33576 42       Extension cord sets  . . . . . . . . . .     9      26,441     113,930     9     30,056       130,082
33576 43       Fixed power supply cords  . . . . . . . .   18      20,515     143,825    18     22,718       167,559
33576 44        Detachable power supply cords  . . . . .    6       8,937      52,948     6   r/ 8,964     r/ 54,084
33576 47       Retractable power cords and other   . . .    9         752      14,515     9        647        12,818
             Apparatus wire:
33576 21       Appliance fixture wire  . . . . . . . . .   19      32,686     101,801    19  r/ 32,071     r/ 96,578
               Appliance wiring material 14 gauge
                and larger, including motor lead
                and transformer lead wire:
33576 23         Thermoset insulated  . . . . . . . . . .   4         (D)         (D)     4        (D)           (D)
33576 24         Thermoplastic insulated  . . . . . . . .   9      34,477      78,086     9     34,192        75,910
33576 28     Submersible pump cable  . . . . . . . . . .    7         (D)         (D)     8        (D)           (D)
33576 29     Other apparatus wire and cordage,
              including tool wire. . . . . . . . . . . .   16      21,577      78,536    16     19,475        73,957
3357E --   Other insulated wire and cable  . . . . . . .   40     142,215     539,779    40 r/ 149,509       469,657
             Automotive:
3357E 72       Bulk automotive primary wire  . . . . . .   11      84,563     206,899    12  r/ 81,214    r/ 186,077
3357E 74       Bulk battery cable  . . . . . . . . . . .    7      14,582      36,002     7  r/ 12,724    r/  34,598
3357E 76       Bulk ignition wire  . . . . . . . . . . .    6         (D)         (D)     6        (D)          (D)
3357E 78       Other automotive wire and cable  . . . .     6         (D)         (D)     7        (D)          (D)
             Airframe, shipboard and ground
              support cable, excluding coaxial
              cable and ignition cable:
3357E 79        Airframe and missile,  including
                 ground support cable. . . . . . . . . .   10       4,159      40,828     8      4,166     a/ 29,935
357E 81        Shipboard cable  . . . . . . . . . . . .     5       3,671       6,620     6      3,808        31,013
3357E 98     Other insulated or covered wire and
              cable, n.e.c  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20      24,363     106,090    21  r/ 36,870        91,073

   D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.    NA Not available.     n.e.c.  Not elsewhere
classified.    pt. Part.    r/  Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data.

   1/ Interplant transfers for 1997 totaled $44,010 and for 1996 totaled $31,505.
   2/ Aluminum content for 1997 totaled 679,912 thousand pounds and for 1996 totaled 640,975 thousand pounds.  See
Table 3 for additional details.
   3/ Data include the following: a) all known establishments which insulate wire and cable and then fabricate it
into finished products, (SIC product class 33576), and (b) establishments from product class 36996, that manufacture
wire, cord, and flexible cord sets from purchased insulated wire.

   Note:  The data presented in this table are for copper content insulated wire and cable.   See Table 3 for
aluminum content information.


Table 3.  Shipments of Aluminum Insulated Wire and Cable:  1997 and 1996
[Quantity  in thousands of pounds.  Value in thousands of dollars]

                                                                             1997                        1996

                         Product description                    No.                        No.
   Product                                                       of     Gross               of       Gross
      code                                                     cos.    weight      Value  cos.      weight         Value

3357- pt.  Insulated wire (except magnet wire) . . . . . . .    (X)   679,912  3,962,426   (X)     640,975     3,891,547
3357A --   Electronic wire and cable. . . . . . . . . . . .      4        (D)        (D)     4         (D)           (D)
33578 --   Power wire and cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     9    325,733  1,790,548     9  r/ 313,963  r/ 1,713,554
33578 17     Underground distribution cable, all insulations
              600 volts or less. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     5    152,037    286,564     5     142,803       261,950
33578 27     Service drop cable, thermoset insulated. . . .      3     34,826     64,317     3      34,584        62,546
33578 28     Service drop cable, thermoplastic insulated. .      2        (D)        (D)     2         (D)           (D)
33578 37     Underground distribution cable,all insulations--
              over 600 volts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6     60,087    408,063     6      52,047       360,975
33578 42     Thermoset insulated power cable, unarmored,
              rubber -- over 600 volts to 15 kV. . . . . . .     5        (D)        (D)     4         (D)           (D)
33578 43     Thermoset insulated power cable, unarmored,
              cross-linked--over 600 volts to 15 kV . . . .      3        (D)        (D)     3         (D)           (D)
3357D --   Building wire and cable. . . . . . . . . . . . .      5     62,940    735,031     6      59,353       759,343
3357D 38     Thermoset insulated, cross-linked polyethylene      3        (D)        (D)     3         (D)           (D)
3357E --   Other insulated wire and cable. . . . . . . . . .     2        (D)        (D)     2         (D)           (D)

  D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.     pt. Part.     r/Revised by 5 percent or more from
previously published data.    X Not applicable.


Table 4.  Shipments of Copper Magnet Wire, including interplant transfers:  1997 and 1996
[Gross weight in thousands of pounds.   Value in thousands of dollars]

                                                                     Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

                                                                              1997                       1996
                                                                  No.                          No.
   Product                  Product description                    of       Gross               of      Gross
    code                                                         cos.   weight 1/      Value  cos.  weight 1/      Value

33577 --     Magnet wire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    (NA)     728,002  1,214,980  (NA)    728,631  1,238,581
33577 1-       Class 105. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    (NA)      49,604     67,122  (NA)     52,545     78,150
33577 11         7 Awg and larger round (also all square
                  and rectangle). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       5       7,118     11,056     6      7,842     13,332
33577 13         8 to 21 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .       5      32,151     37,964     7     31,753     40,763
33577 15         22 to 32 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .      6       9,105     13,502     7     11,824     20,109
33577 18         33 to 44 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .      5       1,230      4,600     7      1,126      3,946
33577 2-       Class 130 and 155. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    (NA)     129,840    272,539  (NA)    132,267    281,788
33577 20         7 Awg and larger round (also all square
                  and rectangle). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       1         (D)        (D)     3        (D)        (D)
33577 22         8 to 21 Awg inclusive . . . . . . . . . . . .     12      26,283     45,053    11     26,384     45,498
33577 24         22 to 32 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .     15      81,338    155,292    14     84,126    165,356
33577 28         33 to 44 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .     11         (D)        (D)    11        (D)        (D)
33577 4-       Class 180 and higher. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   (NA)     481,322    727,401  (NA)    471,392    729,081
33577 40         7 Awg and larger round (also all square
                  and rectangle). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       7      38,510     72,001     8     37,061     68,941
33577 42         8 to 21 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .      12     290,999    389,303    13    279,883    379,535
33577 44         22 to 32 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .     11     125,648    207,357    14    121,422    211,833
33577 48         33 to 44 Awg inclusive. . . . . . . . . . . .      9         (D)        (D)     9      6,560     28,437
33577 90       Miscellaneous film coated,  n.e.c. . . . . . .       1         (D)        (D)     4        (D)        (D)
33577 pt.    Non film coated(fibrous and tape). . . . . . . .    (NA)      32,440     82,335  (NA)     31,585     75,160
33577 81,83    Class 130 and below. . . . . . . . . . . . . .       5      16,908     45,973     5     17,211     41,154
33577 85,87    Class 155 and above. . . . . . . . . . . . . .       5         (D)        (D)     7        (D)        (D)
33577 88       Miscellaneous non-film coated , n.e.c.   . . .       1         (D)        (D)     2        (D)        (D)

   D Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.   NA Not available.   n.e.c.  Not elsewhere classified.
pt. Part.

   1/ Interplant transfers for 1997 totaled 40,548 thousand pounds and 1996 totaled 53,364 thousand pounds of copper.


Table 5.   Aluminum Shipments of Magnet Wire, Including Interplant transfers:  1997 and 1996
[Aluminum gross weight in thousands of pounds.  Value in thousands of dollars]

                                               Shipments, including interplant transfers 1/

                                                        1997                  1996
                 Product description
                                               No.                    No.
  Product                                       of   Gross             of   Gross
   code                                       cos.  weight    Value  cos.  weight      Value

33577 --         Magnet wire.................   15  63,069  132,559    13  59,304    120,394

3577  pt.  Film coated.......................   14  54,452  118,728    13  51,373    107,813
3577  1-    Class 105........................    5     (D)      (D)     5     (D)        (D)
3577  2-    Class 130 and 155 ...............   12     (D)      (D)    13     (D)        (D)
3577  4-    Class 180 and higher.............    9  32,188   71,691    12  30,150  r/ 66,709

3577  pt.  Other types of magnet wire (non-
            film coated; insulated magnet
            sheet, strip, and foil; and film
            coated, 45 AWG and finer)........    5   8,617   13,831     5   7,931     12,581

   D  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.     NA Not available.
pt. Part.    r/  Revised by 5 percent or more from previously published data.

   1/ Interplant transfers for 1997 totaled 6,143 thousand pounds of aluminum and for 1996
totaled 7,075 thousand pounds of alluminum.


Table 6.  Value of Shipments of Fiber Optic Cable: 1997 and 1996
[Thousands of dollars)
                                                            1997            1996
                                                     No.              No.
   Product         Product description                of               of
    code                                            cos.      Value  cos.      Value

33579 --       Insulated optical fiber cable...       37  1,851,613    38  1,727,980

33579 pt.  Communication applications..........       25  1,814,445    26  1,682,267
            Single-mode stepped-index:
33579 12      Dispersion shifted...............       11        (D)     9        (D)
33579 13      Dispersion unshifted ............       14  1,613,647    15  1,492,955
33579 14      Multi-mode stepped index.........        5        (D)     6        (D)
33579 15      Multi-mode graded index .........       19    200,798    19    189,312
33579  21  Other applications..................       15     37,168    16     45,713

      D  Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual companies.


Table 7.  Value of Shipments of Optical Fiber: 1997 and 1996
(Thousands of dollars)
 
                                                          1997            1996
                                                     No.              No.        
  Product          Product description                of               of
   code                                             cos.      Value  cos.      Value
          Optical fiber for data and non data
             transmission .....................       25  1,209,672    26  1,030,821

32318 95    Optical fiber used for data
             transmission......................       16  1,162,257    17    946,092
32318 97    Optical fiber used for non data
             transmission......................       14     47,415    14     84,729
