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UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549


SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.   )*

Quanex Corporation
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)


Common Stock
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class of Securities)


74762010
- --------------
(CUSIP NUMBER)

Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement.[ ]  (A
fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement 
on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the 
class of securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment 
subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less 
of such class.)  (See Rule 13d-7).

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of 
securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which 
would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be 
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities 
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that 
section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act 
(however, see the Notes).

- -----------------------------------




Page 2 of 10 Pages


CUSIP NO. 74762010                  13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing 

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

688,197

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

688,197

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

688,197

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

5.1%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 3 of 10 Pages


CUSIP NO.    74762010               13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing

(a) [ ]                                       
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

683,400

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

683,400

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

683,400

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

5.0%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 4 of 10 Pages


CUSIP NO.    74762010           13G

1. NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
   S.S. or I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Princeton Services, Inc.

2. CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP* Joint Filing

(a) [ ]
(b) [ ]

3. SEC USE ONLY

4. CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
     
Delaware

NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH

5. SOLE VOTING POWER

NONE

6. SHARED VOTING POWER

683,400

7. SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

NONE

8. SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

683,400

9. AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

683,400

10. CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

11. PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

5.0%

12. TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO

    *SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILING OUT!




Page 5 of 10 Pages


                    SCHEDULE 13G


ITEM 1 (a)  Name of Issuer:
            --------------

            Quanex Corporation

ITEM 1 (b)  Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
            -----------------------------------------------

            1900 West Loop South
            Suite 1500
            Houston, TX  77027
            

ITEM 2 (a)  Name of Persons Filing:
            ---------------------

            Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
            Merrill Lynch Group, Inc..
            Princeton Services, Inc.
            
            

ITEM 2 (b)  Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, Residence:
            -----------------------------------------------------------
                
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York  10281

Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.
World Financial Center, North Tower
250 Vesey Street
New York, New York  10281

Princeton Services, Inc.
800 Scudders Mill Road
Plainsboro, New Jersey  08536






Page 6 of 10 Pages


ITEM 2 (c)  Citizenship:
            -----------

See Item 4 of Cover Pages

ITEM 2 (d)  Title of Class of Securities:
            ----------------------------

Common Stock

ITEM 2 (e)  CUSIP NUMBER:
                
74762010

ITEM 3          
   
   Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. ("ML&Co."), Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. ("ML
Group") and Princeton Services, Inc. ("PSI") are parent holding companies, in
accordance with (S) 240.13d-1(b)(ii)(G) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "1934 Act").

ITEM 4  Ownership
        --------- 

(a)  Amount Beneficially Owned:
             
   See Item 9 of Cover Pages.  Pursuant to (S) 240.13d-4, ML&Co., ML Group, 
and PSI disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities of Quanex Corporation 
(the "Company") referred to herein, and the filing of this Schedule 13G shall 
not be construed as an admission that such persons are, for the purposes of 
Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the 1934 Act, the beneficial owner of any securities 
of the Company covered by this statement, other than in the case of ML&Co., 
securities of the Company held by broker-dealer subsidiaries of ML&Co. in 
proprietary trading accounts.

(b)  Percent of Class:

     See Item 11 of Cover Pages

(c)  Number of shares as to which such person has:

     (i)  sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
                 
          See Item 5 of Cover Pages
                 
    (ii)  shared power to vote or to direct the vote:

          See Item 6 of the Cover Pages

   (iii)  sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of:
                            
          See Item 7 of Cover Pages




Page 7 of 10 Pages



    (iv)  shared power to dispose of or direct the disposition of:

          See Item 8 of Cover Pages
                        
ITEM 5  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
        --------------------------------------------

Not Applicable

ITEM 6  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
        ---------------------------------------------------------------

  PSI acts as the general partner of Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P.
(d/b/a) Merrill Lynch Asset Management ("MLAM") and Fund Asset Management,L.P.
(d/b/a) Fund Asset Management ("FAM"), each of which are investment advisers
registered under Section 203 of Advisers Act and acts as an investment adviser 
to investment companies registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company 
Act.  With respect to securities held by those investment companies, several 
persons have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of 
dividends from or the proceeds from the sale of, such securities.  No other 
person has an interest that relates to more than 5% of the class of securities 
reported herein.


ITEM 7   Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which 
         ---------------------------------------------------------
  Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
  ---------------------------------------------------------------------

See Exhibit A

ITEM 8   Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
         ----------------------------------------------------------

Not Applicable





Page 8 of 10 Pages


ITEM 9  Notice of Dissolution of Group.
        ------------------------------

Not Applicable

ITEM 10  Certification
         -------------

    By signing below each of the undersigned certifies that, to the best of
their knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in
the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and 
do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of
such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant 
in any transaction having such purpose or effect.

Signature.
- ---------

    After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, each 
of the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement 
is true, complete and correct.


Date:  January 22, 1997


Merrill Lynch & Co, Inc.

/s/ Richard B. Alsop

- ----------------------------
Name: Richard B. Alsop
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact*


Merrill Lynch Group, Inc.

/s/ Richard B. Alsop

- -----------------------------
Name: Richard B. Alsop
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact**


Princeton Services, Inc.  

/s/ Richard B. Alsop

- -----------------------------
Name:  Richard B. Alsop
Title:  Attorney-In-Fact***


- ------------------------------------
* Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 17, 1995, included
as Exhibit B to this Schedule 13G.

** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 17, 1995, included 
as Exhibit C to this Schedule 13G.

*** Signed pursuant to a power of attorney, dated November 30, 1995, included 
as Exhibit D to this Schedule 13G.





Page 9 of 10 Pages


                        EXHIBIT A TO SCHEDULE 13G
                        -------------------------

                    ITEM 7 DISCLOSURE RESPECTING SUBSIDIARIES
                    -----------------------------------------

   Three of the persons filing this report, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., a
Delaware corporation with its principal place of business at World Financial
Center, North Tower,  250 Vesey Street, New York, New York ("ML&Co."), Merrill
Lynch Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business
at World Financial Center, North Tower, 250 Vesey Street, New York, New York 
("ML Group"), and Princeton Services, Inc. a Delaware corporation with its 
principal place of business at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey,
("PSI") are parent holding companies pursuant to (S)240 13d-1(b) (1) (ii) (G)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act").  The relevant 
subsidiaries of ML&Co. are Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner, and Smith ("MLPF&S"), 
Merrill Lynch Specialists Inc., ML Group and PSI, which is the general partner 
of Fund Asset Management, L.P. (d/b/a) Fund Asset Management ("FAM"), and 
Merrill Lynch Asset Management, L.P. (d/b/a) Merrrill Lynch Asset Management 
("MLAM"), The relevant subsidiary of ML Group is PSI.

    ML&Co. may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of common stock of Quanex 
Corporation (the "Company") held by or deemed to be beneficially owned by 
MLPF&S, Merrill Lynch Specialists Inc. and ML Group.

    MLPF&S, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML&Co. and a broker-dealer, 
registered under Section 15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"),
holds certain of the reported securities of the Company in proprietary trading
accounts.        

    Merrill Lynch Specialist Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ML&Co. and 
a broker-dealer registered pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  
Merrill Lynch Specialist Inc. holds certain of the securities reported herein, 
as a result of its proprietary trading accounts.

    ML Group, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML&Co., may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of 5.0% of the common stock of the Company by virtue of 
its control of its wholly-owned subsidiary, PSI.

    PSI, a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of ML&Co., may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 5.0% of the common stock of the Company by virtue of its
being the general partner of MLAM and FAM.
    
    FAM, a Delaware limited partnership with its principal place of business
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, is an investment adviser
registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the
"Adviser Act").  FAM may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of less than 5% 
of the common stock of the Company by virtue of its acting as investment 
adviser to certain investment companies registered under Section 8 of the 
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act").

    MLAM, a Delaware limited partnership with its principal place of business
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey, is an investment adviser
registered under Section 203 of the Advisers Act of 1940.  MLAM may be deemed
to be the beneficial owner of less than 5% of the common stock of the Company 
by virtue of its acting as investment adviser to certain investment companies 
registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.

    Pursuant to (S)240.13d-4, ML&Co., ML Group, PSI, FAM, MLAM disclaim 
beneficial ownership of the securities of the Company, and the filing of this 
Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that any such entity is, 
for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) 1934 Act, the beneficial owner of 
any securities of the Company other than, certain shares of common stock of 
the Company held by MLPF&S and Merrill Lynch Specialists Inc. in proprietary 
trading accounts.





Page 10 of 10 Pages
                                
                                    EXHIBIT B
                                    ---------
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



    The undersigned, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. (the "Corporation"), a 
corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its
principal place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York, 10281, does hereby make, constitute and appoint Richard B. Alsop, 
Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any other individual
from time to time elected or appointed as Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as 
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead
(i) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or 
delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, 
of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together 
with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the 
Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to 
any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially 
owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on
behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number,
as appropriate, of original copies or electronic filings of any forms (inclu-
ding, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission Form 3, 4 and 5)
required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the regulations
thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and perform such
other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in all respects
as if the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power of Attorney
shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 17th day of November, 1995.


MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.


By:    /s/ David H. Komansky
- ----------------------------
Name:  David H. Komansky
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer

                                   


                                    EXHIBIT C
                                    ---------
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



    The undersigned, Merrill Lynch Group, Inc. (the "Corporation"), a 
corporation duly organized under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its
principal place of business at World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York, 10281, does hereby make, constitute and appoint Richard B. Alsop, 
Richard D. Kreuder, Andrea Lowenthal, Gregory T. Russo, or any other individual
from time to time elected or appointed as Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, acting severally, each of whose address is Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, New York 10281, as 
its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its name, place and stead
(i) to execute on behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or 
delivered, as required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934 (the "Act") and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, 
of original, copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together 
with any amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f)(1) of the 
Act, as may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to 
any equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially 
owned by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant
to Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, (ii) to execute on
behalf of the Corporation and cause to be filed and/or delivered, any number,
as appropriate, of original copies or electronic filings of any forms (inclu-
ding, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission Form 3, 4 and 5)
required to be filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Act and the regulations
thereunder, and (iii) generally to take such other actions and perform such
other things necessary to effectuate the foregoing as fully in all respects
as if the undersigned could do if personally present.  This Power of Attorney
shall remain in effect until revoked, in writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 17th day of November, 1995.


MERRILL LYNCH GROUP, INC.


By:    /s/ Rosemary T. Berkery
- ------------------------------
Name:  Rosemary T. Berkery
Title: Vice President and Director


                                   
                                   EXHIBIT D
                                   ---------
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



    The undersigned, Princeton Services Inc., a corporation duly organized 
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with its principal place of business 
at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey 08536 does hereby make, 
constitute and appoint Richard B. Alsop, Andrea Lowenthal, Richard D. Kreuder, 
Gregory T. Russo, or Dauna R. Williams, acting severally, each of whose address 
is Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., World Financial Center, North Tower, New York, 
New York 10281, as its true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, for it and in its 
name, place and stead to execute and cause to be filed and/or delivered, as 
required under Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") 
and the regulations thereunder, any number, as appropriate, of original, 
copies, or electronic filings of the Securities and Exchange Commission 
Schedule 13D or Schedule 13G Beneficial Ownership Reports (together with any 
amendments and joint filing agreements under Rule 13d-1(f) (1) of the Act, as 
may be required thereto) to be filed and/or delivered with respect to any 
equity security (as defined in Rule 13d-1(d) under the Act) beneficially owned 
by the undersigned and which must be reported by the undersigned pursuant to 
Section 13(d) of the Act and the regulations thereunder, and generally to take 
such other actions and perform such other things necessary to effectuate the 
foregoing as fully in all respects as if the undersigned could do if personally 
present.  This Power of Attorney shall remain in effect until revoked, in 
writing, by the undersigned.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney 
this 30th day of November, 1995.


PRINCETON SERVICES INC.


By:    /s/ Philip L. Kirstein
- --------------------------------------
Name:  Philip L. Kirstein
Title: Director, Senior Vice President
         Secretary and General Counsel