Insulated Wire & Cable

11th Edition

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This study analyzes US supply of and demand for insulated wire and cable products. Major product segments covered are:

  • building wire and cable
    • general purpose (thermoplastic or thermoset)
    • specialty (nonmetallic and underground feeder cable, metallic armored, service entrance, niche product such as low-voltage doorbell wire)
  • power wire and cable
    • underground distribution cable
    • portable wire and cable
    • other types, principally overhead distribution cable
  • fiber optic cable (single-mode and multimode)
  • electronic wire and cable
    • coaxial cable
    • multiconductor wire and cable
    • hook-up wire
    • other products such as antenna lead-in wire and computer backplane wire
  • apparatus wire and cordage
    • flexible cordage (e.g., extension cords, power cords, specialty cords)
    • appliance wire
    • other products (e.g., machine tool wire, wall wire, hobby wire, submersible pump cable)
  • primary, ignition, and battery wire and cable
  • telephone wire and cable, including:
    • exchange area and toll wire and cable
    • inside wiring cable
    • drop, bridle, and duct wire
    • telephone sets and cordage
  • magnet wire
  • control and signal
  • various other types
    • non-motor vehicle transportation wire and cable
    • elevator hatch and traveling cable
    • superconductor wire
    • specialty wire and cable
    • thermocouple wire
    • resistance wire

Excluded from the scope of the study are bare wire and other types of noninsulated wire products, as well as complete wiring harnesses and wiring sets (although separately sold wire utilized in such products is included).

Historical and forecast sales are also provided for:

  • major end use markets, including:
    • construction (residential building, commercial building, and nonbuilding)
    • telecommunications (e.g., backbone, last mile, information processing)
    • electrical equipment
    • motor vehicles
    • industrial machinery and equipment
    • other markets (e.g., aerospace, marine, and other transportation; government; service sector; consumer)
  • selected raw materials consumption data:
    • copper
    • aluminum and other metals
    • primary plastics (e.g., PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomers, nylon, fluoropolymers)

Historical data (2010, 2015, and 2020) and forecasts for 2025 and 2030 are provided in millions of dollars for demand, shipments, and net exports.

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Supply & Demand

The US is a significant net importer of insulated wire and cable, with a trade deficit of $5.5 billion in 2020. The nation’s trade deficit has more than doubled since 2010, due largely to rising international competition in lower cost product segments. Unsurprisingly, the largest sources of domestic imports are Mexico and China, two leading nations with production costs lower than those of the US.

International demand for higher-end products for advanced technologies creates some opportunities for US exports. However, the largest share of US exports is destined for Mexico and Canada, markets that benefit more from proximity to US suppliers.

Shipments of insulated wire and cable from US suppliers are forecast to rise 2.3% per year through 2025, trailing growth in domestic demand:

  • Production growth will be restrained by ongoing competition from imports, and the US trade deficit is expected to continue to grow, reaching nearly $7.0 billion in 2025.
  • Price will remain an important purchasing criteria, particularly for commodity-grade products. As a result, imports from Mexico and China will continue to rise.

Demand by Product

US demand for insulated wire and cable is projected to grow 2.9% annually to $24.8 billion in 2025. Growth will be driven by increases in building construction and manufacturing activity from a weak 2020. Ongoing investment in telecommunications infrastructure will also support sales.

Building wire and cable, which accounted for 25% of 2020 demand, will continue to comprise the largest share of demand and experience solid gains. Building construction activity recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by the end of 2020, although the commercial building segment continues to face uncertainty and will likely see a slow, more protracted recovery.

Fiber optic cables have significantly increased their share of the market in recent years, rising from 7.8% of the total in 2010 to over 14% in 2020:

  • Growth is expected to moderate somewhat as the telecommunications backbone market matures, although this will be offset to an extent by investment related to the 5G rollout.
  • Last-mile fiber – although a relatively small niche – is expected to post strong growth as the proliferation of internet-connected devices makes the cost increasingly justifiable.
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Material Requirements

In its most basic form, insulated wire and cable consists of a conductor covered with an insulating material:

  • Metals have historically been the conductive material of choice and will remain dominant in nonelectronic settings, such as in building and power wire and cable.
  • Optical fibers made from glass or plastic also act as conductors.
    • Glass fiber conductors will continue to be used extensively in applications involving the transmission of voice, video, and data signals.
    • Plastic optical fibers are expected to continue to gain market share from glass fibers within the fiber optic market.
  • Among insulating materials, plastics make up the vast majority of demand due to their nonconductivity, good ductility (ability to be drawn without breakage), and generally low cost. Thermoplastic resins, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), account for a large share of demand and are expected to remain the generally preferred materials going forward.

The amount of raw material, excluding optical fibers, used in wire and cable products is forecast to grow 2.7% per year to 5.1 billion pounds in 2025. Rising US manufacturing of these products will spur increased materials consumption, although competition from imports will temper growth.

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  1. Insulated Wire & Cable

    $5,300.00

    1. 1 Executive Summary

      $89.00

      1. Figure 1-1 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market

    2. 2 COVID-19 Pandemic

      $657.00

      1. 2.1 Overview

        $82.00

      2. 2.2 Impact on the Economy

        $297.00

        1. Table | Macroeconomic Indicators, 2019 - 2022

        2. Figure 2-1 | Real GDP by Economic Sector, 2019 - 2022

      3. 2.3 Impact on the Construction Industry

        $167.00

        1. Table | Construction Expenditures, 2019 - 2022

      4. 2.4 Impact on the Insulated Wire & Cable Industry

        $166.00

        1. Table | Annual Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Market, 2019 - 2021

        2. Figure 2-2 | Annual Insulated Wire & Cable Demand Growth by Market, 2019 - 2023

    3. 3 Overview

      $1,376.00

      1. 3.1 Study Scope

        $82.00

      2. 3.2 Historical Trends

        $176.00

        1. Table | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand, 2010 - 2020

        2. Figure 3-1 | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 3.3 Supply & Demand

        $119.00

        1. Table | Insulated Wire & Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

      4. 3.4 Foreign Trade

        $294.00

        1. 3.4.1 Imports

          $145.00

          1. Table | US Insulated Wire & Cable Imports by Country, 2010 - 2020

          2. Figure 3-2 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Imports: Share by Source, 2020

        2. 3.4.2 Exports

          $146.00

          1. Table | US Insulated Wire & Cable Exports by Country, 2010 - 2020

          2. Figure 3-3 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Exports: Share by Destination, 2020

      5. 3.5 Demand by Product

        $173.00

        1. Table | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 3-4 | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

      6. 3.6 Demand by Market

        $167.00

        1. Table | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Market, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 3-5 | Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Market, 2020

      7. 3.7 Pricing Patterns

        $194.00

        1. Table | Selected Insulated Wire & Cable Price Deflators, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 3-6 | Pricing of Selected Insulated Wire & Cable Products, 2010 - 2025

      8. 3.8 Technology Trends

        $158.00

        1. 3.8.1 5G Networks

          $82.00

        2. 3.8.2 Fiber Optics

          $82.00

        3. 3.8.3 Multiplex Wiring

          $82.00

        4. 3.8.4 Telecommunications Technology

          $82.00

        5. 3.8.5 Superconductivity

          $82.00

      9. 3.9 Sustainability Issues

        $82.00

      10. 3.10 Global Trends

        $82.00

        1. Figure 3-7 | Global Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Region, 2010 - 2030

    4. 4 Wire & Cable Materials

      $1,451.00

      1. 4.1 Material Requirements

        $161.00

        1. Table | Insulated Wire & Cable Material Usage, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 4-1 | Insulated Wire & Cable Material Usage, 2020

      2. 4.2 Metals

        $462.00

        1. 4.2.1 Demand by Metal Type

          $136.00

          1. Table | Metal Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

        2. 4.2.2 Copper

          $165.00

          1. Table | Copper Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable by Product, 2010 - 2030

        3. 4.2.3 Aluminum & Other Metals

          $159.00

          1. Table | Aluminum & Other Metal Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

      3. 4.3 Plastics

        $797.00

        1. 4.3.1 Demand by Plastic Type

          $198.00

          1. Table | Plastic Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable by Type of Plastic, 2010 - 2030

        2. 4.3.2 Polyethylene

          $114.00

          1. Table | Polyethylene Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable by Product, 2010 - 2030

        3. 4.3.3 PVC

          $111.00

          1. Table | Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

        4. 4.3.4 Polypropylene

          $82.00

          1. Table | Polypropylene Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

        5. 4.3.5 Thermoplastic Elastomers

          $93.00

          1. Table | Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE) Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

        6. 4.3.6 Nylon

          $85.00

          1. Table | Nylon Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

        7. 4.3.7 Fluoropolymers & Other Plastics

          $122.00

          1. Table | Fluoropolymer & Other Plastics Demand in Insulated Wire & Cable, 2010 - 2030

      4. 4.4 Optical Fibers

        $82.00

    5. 5 Building Wire & Cable

      $539.00

      1. 5.1 Scope & Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 5-1 | Building Wire & Cable: Product Examples

      2. 5.2 Supply & Demand

        $193.00

        1. Table | Building Wire & Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 5-2 | Building Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 5.3 Types of Building Wire & Cable

        $252.00

        1. 5.3.1 Demand by Product

          $153.00

          1. Table | Building Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 5-3 | Building Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 5.3.2 General Purpose (Thermoplastic or Thermoset)

          $82.00

        3. 5.3.3 Nonmetallic & Underground

          $82.00

        4. 5.3.4 Other Building Wire & Cable (Armored, Service Entrance, All Other)

          $82.00

      4. 5.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    6. 6 Power Wire & Cable

      $781.00

      1. 6.1 Scope & Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 6-1 | Power Wire & Cable: Product Examples

      2. 6.2 Supply & Demand

        $189.00

        1. Table | Power Wire & Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 6-2 | Power Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 6.3 Types of Power Wire & Cable

        $522.00

        1. 6.3.1 Demand by Product

          $151.00

          1. Table | Power Wire & Cable Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 6-3 | Power Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 6.3.2 Underground Distribution

          $121.00

          1. Table | Underground Distribution Cable Demand by Voltage, 2010 - 2030

        3. 6.3.3 Portable

          $113.00

          1. Table | Portable Power Wire & Cable Demand by Voltage, 2010 - 2030

        4. 6.3.4 Other Power Wire & Cable

          $131.00

          1. Table | Other Power Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

      4. 6.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    7. 7 Fiber Optic Cable

      $458.00

      1. 7.1 Scope & Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 7-1 | Fiber Optic Cable: Product Examples

      2. 7.2 Supply & Demand

        $188.00

        1. Table | Fiber Optic Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 7-2 | Fiber Optic Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 7.3 Types of Fiber Optic Cable

        $202.00

        1. 7.3.1 Demand by Product

          $151.00

          1. Table | Fiber Optic Cable Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 7-3 | Fiber Optic Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 7.3.2 Single-Mode

          $82.00

        3. 7.3.3 Multimode

          $82.00

      4. 7.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    8. 8 Electronic Wire & Cable

      $931.00

      1. 8.1 Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 8-1 | Electronic Wire & Cable: Product Examples

      2. 8.2 Supply & Demand

        $195.00

        1. Table | Electronic Wire & Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 8-2 | Electronic Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 8.3 Types of Electronic Wire & Cable

        $665.00

        1. 8.3.1 Demand by Product

          $123.00

          1. Table | Electronic Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 8-3 | Electronic Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 8.3.2 Coaxial

          $167.00

          1. Table | Coaxial Cable Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

        3. 8.3.3 Multiconductor

          $188.00

          1. Table | Multiconductor Wire & Cable Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

        4. 8.3.4 Other Electronic Wire & Cable

          $181.00

          1. Table | Other Electronic Wire & Cable Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

      4. 8.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    9. 9 Apparatus Wire & Cordage

      $564.00

      1. 9.1 Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 9-1 | Apparatus Wire & Cordage: Product Examples

      2. 9.2 Supply & Demand

        $195.00

        1. Table | Apparatus Wire & Cordage Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 9-2 | Apparatus Wire & Cordage Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 9.3 Types of Apparatus Wire & Cable

        $294.00

        1. 9.3.1 Demand by Product

          $124.00

          1. Table | Apparatus Wire & Cordage Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 9-3 | Apparatus Wire & Cordage Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 9.3.2 Flexible Cordage

          $135.00

          1. Table | Flexible Cordage Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

        3. 9.3.3 Appliance Wire

          $82.00

        4. 9.3.4 Other Apparatus Wire & Cordage

          $82.00

      4. 9.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    10. 10 Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable

      $438.00

      1. 10.1 Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 10-1 | Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable: Product Examples

      2. 10.2 Supply & Demand

        $205.00

        1. Table | Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 10-2 | Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 10.3 Demand by Product

        $148.00

        1. Table | Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 10-3 | Primary, Ignition, &Battery Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

      4. 10.4 Suppliers

        $82.00

    11. 11 Other Insulated Wire & Cable Products

      $627.00

      1. 11.1 Scope & Product Description

        $82.00

        1. Figure 11-1 | Other Insulated Wire & Cable Products: Product Examples

      2. 11.2 Supply & Demand

        $209.00

        1. Table | Other Insulated Wire & Cable Product Supply & Demand, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 11-2 | Other Insulated Wire & Cable Product Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 11.3 Types of Other Insulated Wire & Cable

        $335.00

        1. 11.3.1 Demand by Product

          $199.00

          1. Table | Other Insulated Wire & Cable Product Demand by Product & Market, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 11-3 | Other Insulated Wire & Cable Product Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. 11.3.2 Telephone

          $82.00

        3. 11.3.3 Magnet

          $82.00

        4. 11.3.4 Control & Signal

          $82.00

        5. 11.3.5 All Other Wire & Cable Products

          $82.00

    12. 12 Construction Markets

      $757.00

      1. 12.1 Market Description

        $82.00

      2. 12.2 Construction Industry Outlook

        $82.00

        1. Figure 12-1 | Construction Expenditures, 2020 - 2025

      3. 12.3 Wire & Cable Demand by Product

        $168.00

        1. Table | Construction Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 12-2 | Construction Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      4. 12.4 Applications

        $485.00

        1. 12.4.1 Demand by Application

          $127.00

          1. Table | Construction Wire & Cable Demand by Application, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 12-3 | Construction Wire & Cable Demand by Application, 2010 - 2030

        2. 12.4.2 Residential Buildings

          $130.00

          1. Table | Residential Building Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        3. 12.4.3 Commercial Buildings

          $128.00

          1. Table | Commercial Building Insulated Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        4. 12.4.4 Nonbuilding

          $98.00

          1. Table | Nonbuilding Insulated Wire & Cable Demand, 2010 - 2030

      5. 12.5 Key Suppliers

        $82.00

    13. 13 Telecommunications Markets

      $485.00

      1. 13.1 Market Description

        $82.00

      2. 13.2 Telecommunications Industry Outlook

        $82.00

        1. Figure 13-1 | Key Telecommunications Industry Trends

      3. 13.3 Wire & Cable Demand by Product

        $155.00

        1. Table | Telecommunications Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

        2. Figure 13-2 | Telecommunications Market Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      4. 13.4 Markets

        $199.00

        1. 13.4.1 Demand by Application

          $149.00

          1. Table | Telecommunications Wire & Cable Demand by Application, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 13-3 | Telecommunications Wire & Cable Demand by Application, 2010 - 2030

        2. 13.4.2 Backbone

          $82.00

        3. 13.4.3 Last Mile

          $82.00

        4. 13.4.4 Other Applications

          $82.00

      5. 13.5 Key Suppliers

        $82.00

    14. 14 Other Wire & Cable Markets

      $804.00

      1. 14.1 Electrical Equipment

        $241.00

        1. 14.1.1 Market Description

          $82.00

        2. 14.1.2 Demand by Product

          $233.00

          1. Table | Electrical Equipment Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 14-1 | Electrical Equipment Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

          3. Figure 14-2 | Electrical Equipment Wire & Cable Demand by Application, 2010 - 2030

      2. 14.2 Motor Vehicles

        $188.00

        1. 14.2.1 Market Description

          $82.00

        2. 14.2.2 Demand by Product

          $159.00

          1. Table | Motor Vehicle Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 14-3 | Motor Vehicle Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

      3. 14.3 Industrial Machinery & Equipment

        $220.00

        1. 14.3.1 Market Description

          $82.00

        2. 14.3.2 Demand by Product

          $210.00

          1. Table | Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 14-4 | Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

          3. Figure 14-5 | Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wire & Cable Demand by Product, 2010 - 2030

      4. 14.4 Other Markets

        $150.00

        1. 14.4.1 Market Description

          $82.00

        2. 14.4.2 Demand by Market

          $143.00

          1. Table | Other Wire & Cable Markets Demand, 2010 - 2030

          2. Figure 14-6 | Other Wire & Cable Demand, 2000 - 2020

    15. 15 Industry Structure

      $1,252.00

      1. 15.1 Key Findings & Industry Composition

        $202.00

        1. Table | US Wire & Cable Sales by Company, 2020

      2. 15.2 Market Share

        $247.00

        1. Figure 15-1 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market Share by Company, 2020

        2. Figure 15-2 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market Share, 2020: Leading Supplier

        3. Figure 15-3 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market Share, 2020: Second Leading Supplier

        4. Figure 15-4 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market Share, 2020: Third Leading Supplier

        5. Figure 15-5 | US Insulated Wire & Cable Market Share, 2020: Fourth Leading Supplier

      3. 15.3 Mergers & Acquisitions

        $168.00

        1. Table | Selected Mergers & Acquisitions

      4. 15.4 List of Industry Participants

        $631.00

        1. Table | Selected Industry Participants

    16. 16 Appendix

      $3,649.00

      1. 16.1 Scope

        $652.00

        1. Table | Relevant Industry Codes

        2. Table | Relevant HS/HTS Codes

      2. 16.2 Definitions

        $202.00

      3. 16.3 Abbreviations

        $265.00

        1. Table | Abbreviations & Acronyms Used in Study

      4. 16.4 Freedonia Methodology

        $481.00

      5. 16.5 Study-Specific Methodology

        $82.00

      6. 16.6 Sources

        $82.00

      7. 16.7 Associations & Agencies

        $82.00

      8. 16.8 Related Studies & Reports

        $165.00

      9. 16.9 Macroeconomic Assumptions

        $1,772.00

        1. 16.9.1 Economic Environment

          $198.00

          1. Table | Macroeconomic Indicators, 2010 - 2030

        2. 16.9.2 Demographics

          $172.00

          1. Table | Population & Households, 2010 - 2030

        3. 16.9.3 Building Construction

          $138.00

          1. Table | Building Construction Expenditures, 2010 - 2030

        4. 16.9.4 Residential Building Construction

          $151.00

          1. Table | Residential Building Construction Expenditures, 2010 - 2030

        5. 16.9.5 Commercial Building Construction

          $173.00

          1. Table | Commercial Building Construction Expenditures, 2010 - 2030

        6. 16.9.6 Nonbuilding Construction Expenditures

          $135.00

          1. Table | Nonbuilding Construction Expenditures, 2010 - 2030

        7. 16.9.7 Manufacturing Outlook

          $799.00

          1. Table | Manufacturers' Shipments, 2010 - 2030

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