Exhibit 32.1

     CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT
                TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         In connection with the annual report of Anixter International Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending January 2, 2004 as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report") I, Robert
W. Grubbs, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Sec. 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that to my knowledge:

(1)      The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of
         the Company.

/s/ Robert W. Grubbs
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    Robert W. Grubbs
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    March 8, 2004