Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
ROSS JOSEPH J
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
QUANEX CORP [NX] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
__X__ Director _____ 10% Owner
_____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH, SUITE 1500		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
12/31/2004
(Street)

HOUSTON, TX 77027		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 17.3             10/31/2001 10/31/2011 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 23.6933             10/31/2002 10/31/2012 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 23.9             05/23/2003 05/22/2012 Common Stock 9,000   9,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 26.7             10/31/2003 10/31/2013 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to buy) $ 33.8             10/31/2004 10/31/2014 Common Stock 3,000   3,000 D  
Phantom Stock Units (1) $ 0 (2) 12/31/2004   A   18.36   12/31/2004(3) 08/08/1988(3) Common Stock 18.36 $ 45.71 6,235.0352 (4) D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
ROSS JOSEPH J
1900 WEST LOOP SOUTH
SUITE 1500
HOUSTON, TX 77027		   X      

Signatures

 Terry M. Murphy, Power of Attorney   01/04/2005
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Units that are credited to the participant's account under the Quanex Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as a result of Dividend Reinvestment.
(2) Conversion price is 1-for-1.
(3) 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.
(4) Balances have been changed to reflect the 3 for 2 stock split effective 12/31/04.

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