8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

September 13, 2004
(Date of earliest event reported)

QUANEX CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-5725	38-1872178
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

1900 West Loop South, Suite 1500, Houston, Texas	77027
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   713-961-4600

[   ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[   ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12(b))
[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[   ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

On September 13, 2004, Quanex Corporation issued a press release (the "Press Release") announcing a $20 million expansion program (Phase VIII) for MACSTEEL. The foregoing is qualified by reference to the Press Release which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c)     Exhibit 99.1. Press release dated September 13, 2004

Exhibit Index
99.1	Press release dated September 13, 2004

SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	QUANEX CORPORATION (Registrant)
September 13, 2004 (Date)	/s/   TERRY M. MURPHY Terry M. Murphy Vice President - Finance & Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

EX-99.1

EXHIBIT 99.1

Quanex Announces Expansion Program at MACSTEEL

Modernization Will Further Enhance Engineered Steel Bar Quality and Increase Capacity

HOUSTON, Sept. 13, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Quanex Corporation (NYSE:NX), an industry-leading manufacturer of value-added engineered materials and components for the Vehicular Products and Building Products markets, today announced that its Board of Directors approved a $20 million expansion program ("Phase VIII") for MACSTEEL. Phase VIII will increase the annual capacity of the Ft. Smith, Arkansas facility by 40,000 tons to approximately 500,000 tons and will bring MACSTEEL's total shipping capacity to more than 1.3 million tons.

In addition to an increase in capacity, the modernization will improve production flow and further enhance quality. Specifically, Phase VIII will include upgrades to the rotary continuous caster, direct rolling mill, and metallurgical refining areas.

Raymond A. Jean, Quanex chairman and chief executive officer, said, "MACSTEEL is responding to the growing needs of its customers, and Quanex is committed to supporting the growth of its core businesses."

MACSTEEL, part of the Vehicular Products group of Quanex Corporation, is headquartered in Jackson, Michigan and operates manufacturing facilities in Jackson and Monroe, Michigan and Fort Smith, Arkansas, and processing facilities in Huntington, Indiana. Quanex, founded in 1927, is based in Houston, Texas. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.quanex.com or the MACSTEEL website at www.macsteel.com.

Statements that use the words "expect," "should," "will," "might," "gauge" or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The statements found above are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. Factors that could impact future results may include, without limitation, the effect of both domestic and global economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and the availability and cost of raw materials. For a more complete discussion of factors that may affect the Company's future performance, please refer to the Company's most recent 10-K filing (December 29, 2003) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, in particular the sections titled, "Private Securities Litigation Reform Act" contained therein.

The Quanex Corporation logo is available at: http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=1117

CONTACT:  Quanex Corporation
          Jeff Galow
          713/877-5327

          Valerie Calvert
          713/877-5305