Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market latest Statistics on Market Size, Growth, Production, Sales Volume, Sales Price, Market Share and Import vs Export 

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market Summary Highlights

The global telecommunications infrastructure cycle continues to shift toward high-capacity optical networks, and this transition is directly influencing the demand profile for loose tube fiber optic cable systems. In 2026, the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market is estimated to be valued at approximately USD 5.8 billion, supported by accelerated fiber-to-the-home deployment, intercity backbone upgrades, and increasing hyperscale data center connectivity requirements. Demand remains particularly concentrated in Asia-Pacific and North America, where governments and private telecom operators are expanding broadband penetration and 5G transport capacity simultaneously.

Loose tube cable designs remain preferred for outdoor and long-distance installations because of their resistance to moisture, thermal expansion, and mechanical stress. This technical advantage has become increasingly relevant as telecom infrastructure projects expand into regions with extreme weather conditions and higher route density requirements. Multi-fiber deployments in smart cities, utility networks, railway corridors, and industrial automation projects are also contributing to volume growth.

Recent developments across the optical fiber ecosystem continue to influence procurement patterns. In March 2026, India’s Department of Telecommunications expanded rural fiber connectivity allocations under BharatNet Phase III, increasing demand for outdoor optical cable systems across Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions. In January 2026, Prysmian announced additional optical cable manufacturing investments in North America to address growing hyperscale and broadband network demand. Similarly, Corning reported continued expansion in fiber and cable capacity utilization during Q1 2026 due to strong orders linked to U.S. broadband subsidy programs and AI-driven data infrastructure projects.

At the same time, pricing pressure remains visible in selected regional markets because of fluctuations in silica preform costs, competitive bidding by telecom operators, and oversupply conditions in certain standard cable categories. Manufacturers are increasingly differentiating through higher fiber-count designs, bend-insensitive technologies, and reduced-diameter cable architecture rather than competing only on pricing.

Statistical Highlights

• The Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 8.7% between 2026 and 2032.
• Outdoor telecom applications account for nearly 48% of total market demand in 2026.
• Asia-Pacific contributes about 46% of global loose tube optical cable consumption.
• China and India together represent more than 34% of installed fiber route expansion activity in 2026.
• Single-mode loose tube cables account for nearly 72% of total shipments due to long-distance transmission requirements.
• Demand from data center interconnect applications is forecast to rise by over 11% annually through 2030.
• Fiber-to-the-home network projects contribute approximately 39% of new cable procurement volumes globally.
• 5G backhaul infrastructure spending linked to optical fiber deployment is estimated to exceed USD 18 billion in 2026.
• Armored loose tube cable installations are increasing at nearly 9.5% annually in utility and industrial networks.
• North America is expected to account for over 21% of incremental revenue generation between 2026 and 2030.
• High fiber-count cable deployments above 288 fibers are projected to expand by nearly 13% in annual volume shipments.
• Telecom operators in Europe are expected to increase fiber network capital expenditure by approximately 7% in 2026 following regional digital infrastructure initiatives.

Expansion of Fiber-to-the-Home Networks Reshaping Procurement Volumes

Broadband infrastructure expansion remains the primary demand driver for the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market in 2026. Telecom operators are accelerating migration away from legacy copper systems as bandwidth consumption rises across residential and enterprise networks. Higher streaming traffic, cloud applications, AI-enabled workloads, and smart home adoption are increasing pressure on fixed-line infrastructure performance.

Fiber-to-the-home deployment intensity remains strongest in Asia-Pacific. China continues large-scale urban and semi-urban optical upgrades, while India is rapidly expanding rural broadband connectivity through public-private partnerships. In February 2026, India’s Bharat Broadband Network Limited advanced additional optical connectivity tenders covering thousands of gram panchayats under expanded national broadband targets. These projects are increasing procurement of outdoor loose tube cable systems designed for harsh environmental conditions.

European markets are also increasing optical infrastructure spending. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom continue replacing aging access networks with full-fiber architecture. The European Commission’s Digital Decade connectivity objectives are encouraging long-haul and metro optical deployment, supporting consistent cable demand across regional telecom contractors.

The preference for loose tube cable construction in these projects is largely technical. The design isolates fibers from external mechanical stress and moisture exposure, improving reliability in underground ducts, aerial installations, and long-distance deployments. Operators focused on lowering maintenance expenditure increasingly prioritize cable durability over short-term installation cost savings.

5G Backhaul Investments Supporting High Fiber Count Deployments

The transition toward dense 5G architecture is significantly influencing optical cable specifications. Unlike previous wireless generations, 5G requires extensive fiberization to support low-latency and high-capacity data transmission between radio units and core networks.

In 2026, telecom operators across North America, South Korea, Japan, and India are increasing fiber route density to support urban small-cell deployments. This trend is driving demand for high-count loose tube fiber cables capable of handling large-scale traffic aggregation. Multi-fiber designs ranging from 144F to 864F are gaining adoption in metropolitan transport networks.

In January 2026, Nokia expanded collaboration with multiple European telecom providers for 5G transport modernization programs involving advanced optical infrastructure integration. Similar projects are contributing to sustained procurement of armored and non-armored loose tube cable assemblies.

Network densification is also changing installation preferences. Reduced-diameter micro loose tube cables are becoming increasingly popular because they allow telecom operators to maximize conduit utilization while lowering civil construction costs. This is particularly relevant in dense urban environments where duct availability remains limited.

Demand growth is not entirely uniform, however. Certain mature telecom markets are experiencing slower macro-level subscriber expansion, leading operators to prioritize targeted network optimization rather than nationwide overbuilds. As a result, procurement cycles are becoming more selective, with higher emphasis on cable performance metrics including attenuation stability, thermal reliability, and fiber packing efficiency.

Data Center Expansion and AI Infrastructure Driving Optical Connectivity

Hyperscale data center investments are emerging as a major secondary growth engine for the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market. Artificial intelligence processing requirements are significantly increasing east-west traffic within data centers and between regional cloud campuses.

In March 2026, multiple hyperscale infrastructure providers announced continued expansion plans across the United States, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East to support AI computing clusters. These facilities require extensive high-speed optical connectivity, particularly for campus interconnection and regional backbone integration.

Loose tube optical cables are increasingly utilized in outdoor campus environments where environmental protection and long-distance transmission stability are essential. The growing use of distributed AI computing architecture is further increasing fiber density requirements between facilities.

North America remains one of the strongest markets for this segment. U.S. broadband subsidy programs combined with AI-driven infrastructure expansion are creating sustained order flow for optical component and cable manufacturers. Corning’s Q1 2026 operational update indicated strong optical communications demand linked to cloud and broadband infrastructure investment, reflecting continued industry-wide momentum.

Data center operators are also prioritizing cable designs with enhanced thermal tolerance because of rising power density in AI facilities. Manufacturers capable of supplying compact, high-fiber-count configurations with low attenuation characteristics are gaining competitive positioning in premium infrastructure projects.

Utility, Railway, and Industrial Network Applications Expanding the Addressable Market

The application scope for loose tube optical cable systems is widening beyond telecom carriers. Utilities, transportation authorities, energy operators, and industrial automation providers are increasingly deploying fiber networks for monitoring, communication, and operational control.

Power transmission operators are integrating optical ground wire systems and outdoor fiber infrastructure to support smart grid communication. Railway modernization projects across Asia and the Middle East are similarly increasing demand for ruggedized cable assemblies capable of operating in vibration-prone environments.

In April 2026, several Gulf-region infrastructure projects linked to smart city development included expanded fiber backbone deployment for transportation management and public utility integration. Such projects continue supporting specialized demand for armored loose tube configurations with enhanced environmental resistance.

Industrial automation is another emerging contributor. Manufacturing facilities adopting Industry 4.0 frameworks increasingly require reliable, high-speed communication infrastructure for machine connectivity and process monitoring. Fiber optic systems provide lower electromagnetic interference compared with traditional copper communication networks, improving suitability in industrial environments.

These diversified applications are helping stabilize the broader Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market against cyclical fluctuations in telecom capital expenditure. Manufacturers with broad application portfolios are therefore better positioned to maintain utilization rates even during periods of telecom procurement moderation.

Supply Chain Localization and Manufacturing Investments Influencing Competition

Regional supply chain security has become a major strategic consideration across the optical cable industry. Governments and telecom operators increasingly prefer localized manufacturing to reduce dependency on cross-border supply disruptions.

In January 2026, Prysmian expanded North American manufacturing investments targeting broadband and hyperscale infrastructure demand. Several Asian manufacturers are also increasing production capacity in Southeast Asia and India to support regional procurement localization requirements.

At the same time, competitive intensity remains elevated. Price-sensitive public tenders continue placing pressure on operating margins, particularly for standardized cable categories. This is pushing manufacturers toward product differentiation strategies focused on higher fiber density, easier installation architecture, and improved environmental durability rather than pure volume competition.

Raw material fluctuations also remain important. Silica preform pricing, polymer compound costs, and freight expenses continue affecting profitability across cable manufacturing operations. Companies with vertically integrated fiber production capabilities retain a relative advantage in cost stability and delivery reliability.

Environmental considerations are additionally influencing procurement decisions. Telecom operators and infrastructure developers increasingly evaluate recyclable materials, lower installation footprint, and reduced cable diameter designs as part of sustainability targets, creating further opportunities for product innovation across the loose tube optical cable segment.

Geographical Demand Dynamics in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market

Regional demand patterns in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market continue to diverge based on broadband penetration rates, telecom capital expenditure cycles, hyperscale data center investments, and public infrastructure modernization programs. Asia-Pacific maintains leadership in both consumption and installation volumes, while North America and Europe are increasingly focused on network densification and high-capacity upgrades rather than first-phase deployment.

China remains the single largest consumer of outdoor optical cable systems. The country’s continued expansion of 5G transport infrastructure, industrial internet platforms, and provincial data center clusters has sustained strong fiber procurement activity through 2026. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) has continued emphasizing gigabit broadband expansion and industrial digitalization, resulting in high-volume deployments of single-mode loose tube cable systems across metropolitan and semi-urban regions.

India is witnessing one of the fastest growth trajectories in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market. BharatNet Phase III implementation, increasing private telecom fiberization, and state-led smart city projects are collectively driving procurement growth. In March 2026, additional broadband connectivity allocations targeting rural districts accelerated tender activity for underground and aerial optical cable installation. Telecom operators are simultaneously expanding fiber backhaul for 5G rollout, increasing demand for high-fiber-count loose tube infrastructure.

Japan and South Korea continue emphasizing ultra-low latency communication networks and advanced enterprise connectivity. While overall telecom subscriber growth remains moderate in these economies, replacement demand for higher-capacity fiber systems continues supporting steady cable procurement. Dense urban architecture in these countries is increasing preference for micro loose tube cables with reduced diameter and higher duct efficiency.

North America accounts for a significant share of premium cable demand because of hyperscale data center expansion and federally supported broadband programs. The U.S. Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative continues stimulating optical network construction activity across underserved regions. In 2026, rural broadband expansion remains a major driver for armored outdoor cable installations in multiple states.

Cloud infrastructure growth is also reshaping regional demand composition. Several AI-focused data center projects announced during Q1 2026 across Texas, Virginia, and Arizona are increasing requirements for inter-campus optical connectivity. These deployments favor high-density loose tube cable configurations capable of supporting long-distance transmission with low attenuation.

Europe presents a more fragmented but technologically mature demand profile. Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom continue replacing legacy copper systems with full-fiber broadband architecture. European Union digital infrastructure targets and energy-efficient smart grid investments are further supporting optical cable deployment in transportation and utility applications.

The Middle East is emerging as a strategic growth region for the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market due to smart city investments and hyperscale connectivity projects. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are allocating substantial funding toward digital infrastructure modernization under national diversification programs. Fiber backbone expansion linked to smart mobility and industrial automation projects is increasing procurement of ruggedized outdoor cable systems.

Latin America and Africa remain relatively underpenetrated but continue presenting long-term expansion opportunities. Countries including Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Kenya are increasing broadband connectivity investments, though project execution speed varies depending on regulatory and funding conditions.

Segmentation Highlights in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market

• Single-mode cables account for nearly 72% of global demand due to long-distance and high-bandwidth transmission requirements.
• Outdoor installation applications contribute approximately 48% of total revenue generation in 2026.
• Armored loose tube cable systems are witnessing annual demand growth above 9% in industrial and utility sectors.
• Telecom operators remain the dominant end users, representing nearly 57% of total procurement volume.
• Fiber-to-the-home deployments account for about 39% of application-based cable consumption.
• High fiber-count cables above 288F are expanding faster than standard configurations because of 5G and hyperscale infrastructure requirements.
• Underground installation projects continue leading global deployment methods, particularly across Asia-Pacific and Europe.
• Data center interconnect applications are projected to record double-digit annual growth through 2030.
• Utility and smart grid applications are steadily increasing their contribution to the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market, especially in North America and the Gulf region.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Production Trends and Capacity Expansion

Global manufacturing activity remains heavily concentrated in Asia, particularly in China, India, and Southeast Asia, where vertically integrated optical fiber ecosystems support large-scale cable production. Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables production in 2026 is estimated to exceed 710 million fiber kilometers annually, supported by telecom infrastructure modernization and increasing enterprise network investments.

China continues dominating Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables production because of its extensive domestic fiber preform capacity, mature supply chain integration, and strong export network. Major Chinese manufacturers are maintaining high utilization rates despite competitive pricing pressure in standard cable categories. Export-oriented production remains particularly strong for projects in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

India is rapidly increasing Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables production capacity as telecom operators expand local sourcing requirements. Several domestic manufacturers announced production line upgrades during late 2025 and early 2026 to support BharatNet and private broadband projects. The Production Linked Incentive framework for telecom equipment manufacturing has also encouraged incremental investment in optical cable facilities.

North American and European manufacturers continue focusing on premium, high-performance cable categories rather than competing solely on commodity volume. Regional capacity additions are increasingly targeted toward high-fiber-count and low-diameter designs suitable for hyperscale and metro transport networks.

Production efficiency improvements are also reshaping industry economics. Automation in fiber coloring, tube extrusion, and cable jacketing operations is helping manufacturers reduce defect rates and improve throughput consistency. Facilities deploying advanced process monitoring systems are achieving stronger operational efficiency, particularly in large-scale export contracts.

Market Segmentation by Cable Type and Application

Single loose tube constructions continue dominating long-distance outdoor deployment because they provide better environmental protection and lower attenuation over extended transmission routes. Multi loose tube configurations are gaining stronger adoption in high-density urban and enterprise networks where fiber concentration requirements are higher.

Telecommunications remains the largest application segment, although the growth rate in industrial and utility applications is becoming increasingly significant. Power transmission operators are integrating optical communication systems into grid modernization programs, especially in North America and parts of Asia-Pacific.

Railway and transportation infrastructure projects are also becoming major contributors to specialized cable demand. In 2026, multiple high-speed rail expansion projects in Asia and the Middle East incorporated large-scale fiber backbone installation to support communication, surveillance, and signaling systems.

The data center segment continues showing strong momentum. AI-driven computational infrastructure requires extremely high-capacity interconnectivity, increasing deployment of high-count loose tube optical cable assemblies between campuses and regional switching hubs.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Price Trend and Cost Movement

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Price levels in 2026 remain influenced by raw material volatility, telecom tender competition, freight costs, and fiber preform availability. Pricing conditions vary significantly by geography and cable specification category.

Standard outdoor single-mode cable pricing experienced moderate stabilization during early 2026 following supply-demand imbalances seen during previous procurement cycles. However, high-density and armored configurations continue commanding stronger margins because of technical complexity and rising deployment in critical infrastructure projects.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Price Trend analysis indicates that silica preform costs remain one of the most influential variables affecting manufacturer profitability. Fluctuations in specialty polymer compounds, aramid yarn, and petroleum-derived jacketing materials are also impacting overall production economics.

In Asia-Pacific, aggressive competition among regional suppliers has limited large-scale price escalation despite strong installation activity. Public telecom tenders in India and Southeast Asia remain highly price sensitive, encouraging manufacturers to optimize cable diameter and installation efficiency to preserve margins.

North America presents comparatively stronger pricing realization because of premium product demand linked to broadband subsidies and hyperscale infrastructure projects. Fiber-rich cable systems designed for AI data centers and advanced transport networks continue achieving higher average selling prices than conventional outdoor telecom cable categories.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Price movement in Europe remains affected by energy costs and regulatory compliance expenses. Manufacturers operating in the region are increasingly emphasizing recyclable materials, lower-carbon production methods, and reduced cable footprint designs, which are influencing overall product pricing structure.

The Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Price Trend through 2027 is expected to remain moderately firm for specialized configurations, while commodity-grade cable categories may continue facing competitive pressure because of elevated regional production capacity and aggressive telecom procurement negotiations.

Leading Manufacturers in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market

The competitive structure of the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market is shaped by a combination of vertically integrated fiber producers, telecom infrastructure specialists, and regional cable manufacturers with strong government and telecom operator relationships. Market concentration remains moderate, with a handful of global companies controlling a substantial portion of premium and high-volume deployments, while local manufacturers continue competing aggressively in public broadband tenders and regional infrastructure projects.

The industry is increasingly shifting toward high-fiber-count cable systems, compact duct solutions, bend-insensitive fiber technology, and ruggedized outdoor cable designs. Manufacturers with advanced fiber preform capabilities and large-scale production infrastructure are maintaining stronger margins compared to suppliers dependent on imported raw materials.

Prysmian Holding Strong Position in Global Telecom Infrastructure

Prysmian continues to remain one of the most influential participants in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market due to its broad manufacturing footprint and diversified customer base across telecom, utility, transportation, and hyperscale infrastructure sectors.

The company’s Sirocco microduct cable systems and FlexRibbon technologies are widely deployed in high-density broadband and metropolitan transport networks. Prysmian has increasingly emphasized reduced-diameter loose tube cable configurations to improve duct utilization and lower installation costs for telecom operators.

North America remains a major growth region for the company because of ongoing broadband subsidy programs and data center investments. Prysmian has also expanded production focus toward high-fiber-count outdoor cables required for AI infrastructure and 5G transport deployment.

Corning Expanding Presence Through AI and Broadband Demand

Corning has strengthened its position in the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market through aggressive expansion in optical communications infrastructure linked to hyperscale computing and broadband modernization.

The company’s RocketRibbon and EDGE product lines continue seeing strong deployment in data center interconnect, telecom backbone, and fiber-to-the-home projects. Corning benefits from strong integration across optical fiber manufacturing and cable assembly operations, allowing better cost management during periods of raw material volatility.

AI infrastructure expansion has become an important revenue contributor for the company. Large-scale GPU clusters and cloud campuses require extensive optical connectivity between facilities, increasing demand for high-density loose tube cable systems.

Corning has also expanded focus on multicore fiber and next-generation optical connectivity platforms designed for ultra-high-capacity network environments.

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Maintaining High Shipment Volumes

Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable, commonly known as YOFC, remains among the largest producers by shipment volume in the global Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market.

The company benefits from China’s extensive telecom infrastructure ecosystem and large domestic broadband deployment programs. YOFC’s product range includes armored outdoor cables, ribbon fiber systems, high-count backbone cables, and long-haul transmission solutions.

Strong export activity across Southeast Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern broadband projects continues supporting production utilization. The company’s large-scale fiber preform manufacturing capacity also provides cost advantages during periods of supply chain disruption.

China’s continuing investments in 5G transport infrastructure and industrial digitalization projects remain favorable for YOFC’s domestic order pipeline.

Fujikura and Furukawa Electric Targeting Premium Applications

Japanese manufacturers Fujikura and Furukawa Electric maintain strong positions in technologically advanced segments of the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market.

Fujikura’s Spider Web Ribbon cable technologies are increasingly used in high-density deployment environments where installation efficiency and space optimization are important. The company focuses heavily on low-loss optical transmission and advanced cable architecture for telecom and data center applications.

Furukawa Electric similarly maintains a strong portfolio of optical communication products targeted at enterprise networks, industrial automation systems, and carrier infrastructure.

Japanese suppliers generally compete through engineering quality and network reliability rather than commodity pricing. This strategy remains effective in premium broadband, industrial communication, and hyperscale connectivity projects.

CommScope, AFL, Nexans, and Sumitomo Electric Expanding Market Presence

CommScope remains active in broadband infrastructure and enterprise optical networking. Its loose tube optical cable systems are increasingly deployed in regional broadband expansion and cloud connectivity projects.

AFL continues benefiting from broadband modernization programs across North America, particularly in rural and semi-urban network deployment initiatives. The company has strengthened manufacturing and distribution capabilities to support rising optical cable demand.

Nexans maintains strong participation in European telecom and utility infrastructure projects. The company has focused on environmentally efficient cable designs and industrial communication systems linked to energy and transportation modernization.

Sumitomo Electric remains an important participant in high-performance optical communication systems, particularly across Asia-Pacific telecom networks and enterprise infrastructure deployments.

Several Indian manufacturers are also increasing competitiveness within the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market. Domestic telecom expansion and government-supported broadband connectivity programs are supporting regional cable production growth. Local suppliers are benefiting from procurement localization initiatives and increasing fiber deployment across rural connectivity projects.

Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market Share by Manufacturers

The Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market share distribution reflects strong competition between multinational fiber producers and regionally focused cable suppliers.

Prysmian is estimated to account for nearly 13% to 15% of global market revenue, supported by its diversified product portfolio and strong presence across North America and Europe. Corning follows closely with approximately 11% to 13% market share, driven largely by broadband infrastructure expansion and AI-related optical connectivity demand.

YOFC contributes a major portion of global shipment volume, particularly in Asia-Pacific and emerging broadband markets. The company maintains strong positioning in cost-competitive outdoor cable categories and high-volume telecom deployments.

Fujikura, Furukawa Electric, Sumitomo Electric, Hengtong, CommScope, AFL, and Nexans collectively represent a significant portion of organized market supply. These companies continue investing in advanced fiber technologies, high-density cable systems, and localized manufacturing expansion.

Regional manufacturers in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America are gradually increasing market participation because of domestic broadband initiatives and public infrastructure projects. However, large international players still maintain advantages in scale, fiber preform integration, and advanced cable engineering capabilities.

Competition within the Loose Tube Fiber Optic Cables Market is no longer centered only on pricing. Telecom operators and hyperscale infrastructure developers increasingly prioritize fiber density, cable diameter optimization, environmental durability, and long-term maintenance performance.

Recent Industry Developments and Market Activities

In January 2026, major optical infrastructure suppliers increased production allocation toward AI-focused data center projects in the United States as hyperscale cloud investment accelerated.

During March 2026, several leading optical cable manufacturers introduced next-generation multicore fiber and high-density cable systems at OFC 2026, targeting ultra-high-capacity data transmission requirements.

In April 2026, optical communications revenue growth remained strong among global fiber manufacturers because of rising broadband deployment activity and AI infrastructure spending.

North American cable suppliers expanded domestic manufacturing commitments throughout 2026 to align with broadband localization requirements tied to federal infrastructure funding.

Multiple Asian manufacturers also announced additional production line investments during early 2026 to support increasing demand for high-fiber-count loose tube cable systems used in 5G transport and metro network expansion.

European telecom infrastructure modernization programs continued supporting procurement of compact loose tube cable systems designed for urban underground deployment and smart utility integration.