<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001415889-25-006124.txt : 20250303
<SEC-HEADER>0001415889-25-006124.hdr.sgml : 20250303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20250303152509
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001415889-25-006124
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20250228
FILED AS OF DATE:		20250303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20250303

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Zernikow Eric
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0002057036
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09929
		FILM NUMBER:		25697275

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DRIVE
		CITY:			MOUNT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000764401
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STEEL WORKS, BLAST FURNACES & ROLLING & FINISHING MILLS [3310]
		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	04 Manufacturing
		IRS NUMBER:				560674867
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0928

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DR
		CITY:			MOUNT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3367862141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1373 BOGGS DRIVE
		CITY:			MOUNT AIRY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27030

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXPOSAIC INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880511
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3-03032025_080305.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2025-02-28</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000764401</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSTEEL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IIIN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002057036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Zernikow Eric</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1370 BOGGS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MOUNT AIRY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Elizabeth C. Southern, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2025-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>ex24-03032025_080305.htm
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN">
<html><head><title>ex24-03032025_080305.htm</title></head><body style="margin-top:0;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt; color:#000000">
<p style="margin:0px; font-size:16pt" align="center"><b>POWER OF ATTORNEY</b></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:48px; font-size:12pt" align="justify">I, <b>Eric J. Zernikow</b>, hereby grant Power of Attorney to the following individuals to sign forms on my behalf to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; <b>Scot R. Jafroodi, Elizabeth C. Southern and Sheila M. Spencer</b>. &nbsp;This Power of Attorney shall remain effective so long as I am required to file reports under Section 16(a) by virtue of my directorship with Insteel Industries Inc.</p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px; text-indent:240px; font-size:12pt"><u>/s/ &nbsp;Eric J. Zernikow &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2/28/2025</u></p>
<p style="margin-top:0px; margin-bottom:-2px; text-indent:288px; width:528px; font-size:12pt; float:left">Eric J. Zernikow</p>
<p style="margin:0px; padding-left:240px; text-indent:-2px; font-size:12pt">Date</p>
<p style="margin:0px; clear:left"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px"><br><br></p>
</body></html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
