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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 2IawOJsu+Of6dQLBjROtmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000276889-03-000097.txt : 20031205
<SEC-HEADER>0000276889-03-000097.hdr.sgml : 20031205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031205165216
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000276889-03-000097
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031205

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALLOU ROBERT C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001232999

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05725
		FILM NUMBER:		031040831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4971 BIRDIE LANE
		CITY:			ANN ARBOR
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48103

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QUANEX CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000276889
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ROLLING DRAWING & EXTRUDING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3350]
		IRS NUMBER:				381872178
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 W LOOP S STE 1500
		STREET 2:		ATTN WENDY RODENBECK
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-877-5328

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77027
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001232999d20031205f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-04</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000276889</issuerCik><issuerName>QUANEX CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001232999</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BALLOU ROBERT C</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>77027</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText>President - Vehicular Products</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingO
wner><nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-05</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-12-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>19000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>36</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseD
ate><value>2003-07-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-07-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>15000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-04</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwa
pInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1193</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>40.15</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2003-12-04</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1193</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1193</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Units
 that are credited to the participants account under the Quanex Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as a result of the participant's deferral of income or fees, as the case may be.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Conversion price is 1-for-1.</footnote><footnote id="F3">All units credited under the Deferred Compensation Plan are 100% vested at all times; provided, however, that if a participant receives a benefit from the Deferred Compensation Plan for any reason other than death, disability or retirement within three years after a deferral is credited to a participant's account, any matching awards made by the Company with respect to such deferral will be forfeited.  Distributions under the Deferred Compensation Plan are made beginning on a specified date selected bythe participant or upon a participant's death, disability, or termination of employment.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Terry M. Murphy, Power of Attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate></ownerSignatu
re></ownershipDocument>

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