Quanex Corporation

Power of Attorney


The undersigned hereby constitutes and appoints Terry M. Murphy, Ricardo
Arredondo and Jeffery A. Pugh his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and
agents, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for
him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities,
to complete and sign all Form 4s and Form 5s relating to equity
securities of Quanex Corporation and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto or documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange
and Quanex Corporation, granting to said attorney-in-fact and
agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every
act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or
could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



Executed this 26th day of February 2004



/s/ Robert C. Ballou

Robert C. Ballou