ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.  
25 Hub Drive   
Melville, New York 11747-3409  
  
  
              ARROW ELECTRONICS ANTICIPATES LOWER FOURTH QUARTER EARNINGS  
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
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MELVILLE, NEW YORK, January 12, 1999 -- Arrow Electronics, Inc. 
(NYSE:ARW) announced that fourth quarter earnings are likely to be 
below analysts' expectations.  The company indicated that the decrease 
in earnings was principally attributable to lower than expected sales
in Northern and Central Europe, coupled with continued pressure on gross 
profit margins in the company's North American components operations and 
certain Asian markets.  Gates/Arrow Distributing, the Arrow subsidiary 
that distributes computer products in North America, continued to operate 
at satisfactory levels and reported sales and operating income ahead of 
the third quarter.  
  
Based upon preliminary results for the quarter, the company believes 
that fourth quarter earnings are expected to be between $.30 and $.35 
per share on a fully diluted basis.  This compares with $.37 per share   
in the third quarter of 1998 and $.53 per share in the fourth quarter 
of 1997.  
  
Arrow Electronics is the world's largest distributor of electronic 
components and computer products, with 1997 sales of $7.8 billion.  
Headquartered in Melville, New York, Arrow serves as a supply channel   
partner for more than 600 suppliers and 160,000 original equipment 
manufacturers and commercial customers through more than 200 sales 
facilities and 26 distribution centers in 32 countries.  Detailed   
information about Arrow's operations can be found at www.arrow.com.  
 

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CONTACT:         Robert E. Klatell    
                 Executive Vice President  
                 516-391-1300  
  
  
  
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a
"safe harbor" for forward-looking statements.  This press release 
contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations 
that could be affected by the risks and uncertainties involved in 
the company's business.  These risks and uncertainties include, but
are not limited to, the effect of economic and market conditions, 
opportunities for acquisitions and the company's ability to 
effectively integrate acquired companies, risks associated with   
foreign operations, such as currency fluctuations, possible 
increases in shipping rates or interruptions in shipping service,
the addition or loss of suppliers, allocation of products by 
suppliers, changes in market demand and pricing pressure, the level 
and volatility of interest rates, the impact of current or pending   
legislation and regulations, fluctuation in quarterly results, as 
well as the risks described from time to time in the company's 
reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.