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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000276889-03-000098.txt : 20031205
<SEC-HEADER>0000276889-03-000098.hdr.sgml : 20031205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031205165239
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000276889-03-000098
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031205

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JEAN RAYMOND A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001028625

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05725
		FILM NUMBER:		031040833

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1130 GREEN BAY ROAD
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472958707

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		VARLEN CORP
		STREET 2:		55 SHUMAN BLVD PO BOX 3089
		CITY:			NAPERVILLE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60566
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001028625d20031205f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<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>0001028625</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JEAN RAYMOND A</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman, CEO &amp; President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwn
er><nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>18.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-02-22</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-02-22</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>100000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</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>26</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerci
seDate><value>2002-10-24</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-10-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>55000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</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>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>55
000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>55000</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><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3603</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>3603</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>15396</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></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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