<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE  CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS  FOR THE YEAR ENDED OCTOBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                         0001000230
<NAME>                        OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000
<CURRENCY>                                    US-DOLLAR

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                           6,817
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   10,608
<ALLOWANCES>                                       316
<INVENTORY>                                      8,754
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                26,464
<PP&E>                                          15,929
<DEPRECIATION>                                   5,103
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  37,512
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            4,485
<BONDS>                                              0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<COMMON>                                         4,128
<OTHER-SE>                                      28,719
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    37,512
<SALES>                                         50,699
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                50,900
<CGS>                                           27,547
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   10,826
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    36
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    87
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 12,519
<INCOME-TAX>                                     4,214
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              8,305
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                     8,305
<EPS-BASIC>                                    0.220
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.219