Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a rough-shaped, cold-rolled cladding tube of "Zircaloy 2" or "Zircaloy 4", in which(a) an ingot of the alloy is transformed by hot working and the bar obtained is cut up into billets,(b) the bar or the billet is then immersed from the .beta. range,(c) at least one billet which has thus been immersed is extruded in the .alpha. range,(d) the rough shape extruded is cold-rolled and heat-treated to give rise to a cold-rolled, rough-shaped cladding tube,wherein the hot working is first carried out in the .beta. range with a cross-sectional reduction ratio of at least 1.5 and then in the .alpha. range with a cross-sectional reduction ratio of at least 3, is disclosed.