Contact:    Dennis G. Newkirk
                                                                (281) 423-3332

                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                         NL REPORTS SURGE IN EARNINGS

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- July 17, 1998 -- NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) reported income
from continuing  operations for the second quarter of 1998 of $23.4 million,  or
$.45 per diluted  share,  compared to a loss from  continuing  operations in the
second quarter of 1997 of $3.4 million,  or $.07 per diluted share.  NL reported
income from  continuing  operations for the first half of 1998 of $39.8 million,
or $.77 per diluted share,  compared to a loss from continuing operations in the
first half of 1997 of $43.6 million,  or $.85 per diluted share.  Net income for
the  second  quarter  of 1998 was  $23.7  million,  or $.46 per  diluted  share,
compared to net income in the second  quarter of 1997 of $2.3  million,  or $.04
per diluted share. The 1997 results include a first-quarter  $30 million noncash
charge,  or $.59 per  diluted  share,  related to the  adoption  of the  AICPA's
Statement of Position No. 96-1, "Environmental Remediation Liabilities."

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
second  quarter of 1998 was $46.7  million,  $29.9  million more than the second
quarter of 1997 on higher TiO2 selling  prices and improved  production  volume.
Kronos'  average  TiO2  selling  prices for the second  quarter of 1998 were 18%
higher than the second  quarter of 1997 and 3% higher than the first  quarter of
1998.  Selling  prices at the end of the second  quarter were 1% higher than the
average for the quarter.  Kronos' second quarter sales volume  approximated  the
record  second  quarter of 1997 with higher  sales  volume in Europe  offsetting
lower sales volume in Asia.  Sales volume in the first six months of 1998 was 1%
higher than the  year-earlier  period.  J. Landis  Martin,  President  and Chief
Executive Officer,  stated,  "The continued increases in average selling prices,
coupled  with our  improved  TiO2  production  performance,  resulted in another
outstanding  quarter for NL. We believe that demand for TiO2 will remain healthy
in the near-term and we expect industry conditions to continue to improve."

As previously reported, the Company sold its Rheox specialty chemical operations
in the first quarter of 1998 and, as a result of the sale,  Rheox's  results are
reported as discontinued  operations.  The  extraordinary  item in 1998 resulted
from early extinguishment of debt.

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,  including,
but not limited to, future global economic and political conditions, global TiO2
production  capacity and the amount and timing of capacity changes,  competitive
products and prices, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the Company's
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  filings.   Actual  results  could  differ
materially from those forecasted or expected.


<PAGE>



                             NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

                     (In millions, except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Quarters ended  Six months ended
                                                June 30,         June 30,
                                             --------------  ----------------
                                             1997     1998    1997      1998
                                             ----     ----    ----      ----
<S>                                          <C>      <C>     <C>       <C>
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales                                  $214.4   $241.6  $418.8    $464.3
  Other income, excluding corporate             5.5      1.3     7.2       2.7
                                             ------   ------   ------   ------

                                              219.9    242.9   426.0     467.0

Cost of sales                                 172.8    167.3   340.0     324.3
Selling, general and administrative, 
 excluding corporate                           30.3     28.9    60.5      56.6
                                              -----    -----   -----     ----- 

Operating income                               16.8     46.7    25.5      86.1

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings                            .5      4.6     1.2       8.4
  Expenses, net                                (4.9)    (3.3)  (38.7)     (7.5)
  Interest expense                            (16.5)   (15.5)  (32.7)    (31.8)
                                              -----    -----   -----     -----

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations before income taxes            (4.1)    32.5   (44.7)     55.2

Income tax benefit (expense)                     .7     (9.1)    1.1     (15.4)
                                              -----    -----   -----     ----- 

    Income (loss) from continuing
     operations                                (3.4)    23.4   (43.6)     39.8

Discontinued operations - Rheox                 5.7       .3    10.1     287.4
Extraordinary item                               -        -       -       (2.4)
                                              -----    -----   -----     ----- 

    Net income (loss)                        $  2.3   $ 23.7  $(33.5)   $324.8
                                             ======   ======  ======    ======
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                             NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
          CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS, Continued

                     (In millions, except per share data)
                                 (Unaudited)




<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             Quarters ended  Six months ended
                                                June 30,         June 30,
                                             --------------  ----------------
                                             1997    1998     1997     1998
                                             ----    ----     ----     ----
<S>                                        <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>

Basic earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations                    $ (.07)  $  .46   $ (.85)  $  .77
  Discontinued operations                     .11      -        .20     5.61
  Extraordinary item                          -        -        -       (.05)
                                           ------   ------   ------   ------ 

  Net income (loss)                        $  .04   $  .46   $ (.65)  $ 6.33
                                           ======   ======   ======   ======



Diluted earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations                    $ (.07)  $  .45   $ (.85)  $  .77
  Discontinued operations                     .11      .01      .20     5.53
  Extraordinary item                          -        -        -       (.05)
                                           ------   ------   ------   ------

  Net income (loss)                        $  .04   $  .46   $ (.65)  $ 6.25
                                           ======   ======   ======   ======



Shares used in the calculation of
 earnings per share:
  Basic shares                              51.1     51.3     51.1     51.3
  Dilutive impact of stock options           -         .7      -         .6
                                          ------   ------   ------   ------
  Diluted shares                            51.1     52.0     51.1     51.9
                                          ======   ======   ======   ======


</TABLE>