NL Industries, Inc.                   Contact: Gregory M. Swalwell
Three Lincoln Centre                           Vice President, Finance and Chief
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700                   Financial Officer
Dallas, TX  75240-2697                         (972) 233-1700
-------------------------------       ------------------------------------------
News Release
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                          [GRAPHIC OMITTED]

                        NL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

DALLAS,  TEXAS...May  5, 2006...NL  Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  today reported
income from continuing operations of $6.5 million, or $.13 per diluted share, in
the first quarter of 2006 compared to $14.8 million,  or $.31 per diluted share,
in the first quarter of 2005.

Component  product  sales  increased  slightly  in the first  quarter of 2006 as
compared to the same quarter of 2005 as higher volumes of security product sales
was offset by  decreases  in sales for certain  other  products  resulting  from
increased  competition.  Component  products segment profit increased due to the
favorable  impact of  CompX's  continued  focus on  reducing  costs  across  all
segments and a favorable change in product mix resulting from increases in sales
of certain higher margin security products.

Kronos'  net sales of $304.3  million  in the first  quarter  of 2006 were $12.4
million,  or 4%, higher than in the first quarter of 2005 due to the net effects
of higher TiO2 selling  prices,  higher  average TiO2 selling  volumes,  and the
unfavorable  effect of fluctuations in foreign  currency  exchange rates,  which
decreased sales by approximately $16 million.

Kronos'  average TiO2 selling prices in billing  currencies  (which excludes the
effects  of  fluctuations  in the  value of the U.S.  dollar  relative  to other
currencies) were 2% higher in the first quarter of 2006 as compared to the first
quarter  of 2005.  Expressed  in U.S.  dollars  computed  using  actual  foreign
currency exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods,  the Company's
average TiO2 selling  prices in the first quarter of 2006 were 3% lower than the
first quarter of 2005.

Kronos'  first  quarter  2006 TiO2  sales  volumes  increased  9% from the first
quarter of 2005,  primarily due to significantly higher sales volumes in the US,
and slightly higher sales volumes in Europe and in export markets offsetting the
effects of lower sales volumes in Canada.  Kronos' TiO2 production  volumes were
4% higher in the first quarter of 2006 as compared to the first quarter of 2005,
with  operating  rates at near full  capacity in both periods.  Both  production
volume and sales volume in the first quarter of 2006 set a new record for Kronos
for a first quarter.

Kronos'  TiO2  segment  profit for the first  quarter of 2006 was $36.2  million
compared with $48.0 million in the first quarter of 2005.  First quarter segment
profit  diminished due primarily to higher  production  costs,  particularly raw
material and energy costs, as well as to the negative effects of the fluctuation
in foreign currency rates which resulted in a decrease in Kronos' segment profit
of approximately $5 million.

Securities transactions gains in the first quarter of 2005 relate principally to
a $14.6 million gain ($7.9  million,  or $.16 per diluted  share,  net of income
taxes)  related to the Company's sale of shares of Kronos common stock in market
transactions.  Insurance recoveries in the first quarter of 2006 of $2.2 million
($1.5 million, or $.03 per diluted share, net of income taxes) relate to amounts
received by NL from certain of its former insurance carriers. Corporate expenses
were lower in the first quarter of 2006 as compared to the first quarter of 2005
due to lower environmental and legal expenses.

Discontinued   operations  in  2005  relate  to  CompX's  former  Thomas  Regout
operations in the Netherlands.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts
are  forward-looking   statements  that  represent   management's   beliefs  and
assumptions  based on  currently  available  information.  Although  the Company
believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking  statements are
reasonable,  it cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to
be correct.  Such  statements  by their  nature  involve  substantial  risks and
uncertainties  that could  significantly  impact  expected  results,  and actual
future   results  could  differ   materially   from  those   described  in  such
forward-looking  statements.  While it is not  possible to identify all factors,
the Company  continues  to face many risks and  uncertainties.  The factors that
could cause actual  future  results to differ  materially  include,  but are not
limited to, the following:
o    Future supply and demand for the Company's products,
o    The extent of the  dependence  of certain of the  Company's  businesses  on
     certain market sectors,
o    The cyclicality of certain of the Company's businesses,
o    Customer inventory levels,
o    Changes in raw material and other operating costs,
o    The possibility of labor disruptions,
o    General global economic and political conditions,
o    Demand for office furniture,
o    Competitive   products  and  substitute   products,   including   increased
     competition from low-cost manufacturing sources,
o    Customer and competitor strategies,
o    The impact of pricing and production decisions,
o    Competitive technology positions,
o    The introduction of trade barriers,
o    Service industry employment levels,
o    Fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
o    Operating interruptions,
o    The timing and amounts of insurance recoveries,
o    The ability of the Company to renew or refinance credit facilities,
o    The ultimate  outcome of income tax audits,  tax settlement  initiatives or
     other tax matters,
o    The introduction of trade barriers,
o    Potential difficulties in integrating completed or future acquisitions,
o    Decisions to sell  operating  assets  other than in the ordinary  course of
     business,
o    Uncertainties associated with new product development,
o    The ultimate ability to utilize income tax attributes, the benefit of which
     has been recognized under the "more-likely-than-not" recognition criteria,
o    Environmental matters,
o    Government laws and regulations and possible changes therein,
o    The ultimate resolution of pending litigation, and
o    Possible future litigation.

Should one or more of these risks  materialize  (or the  consequences  of such a
development  worsen),  or should the  underlying  assumptions  prove  incorrect,
actual results could differ  materially from those  forecasted or expected.  The
Company   disclaims  any  intention  or  obligation  to  update  or  revise  any
forward-looking statement whether as a result of changes in information,  future
events or otherwise.

In an effort to provide  investors  with  additional  information  regarding the
Company's results of operations as determined by GAAP, the Company has disclosed
certain non-GAAP information the Company believes provides useful information to
investors:

o    The Company  discloses  percentage  changes in Kronos' average TiO2 selling
     prices in  billing  currencies,  which  excludes  the  effects  of  foreign
     currency  translation.  The Company believes  disclosure of such percentage
     changes  allows  investors to analyze  such  changes  without the impact of
     changes  in  foreign   currency   exchange  rates,   thereby   facilitating
     period-to-period  comparisons  of relative  changes in average TiO2 selling
     prices in the actual various billing currencies.  Generally,  when the U.S.
     dollar  either  strengthens  or  weakens  against  other  currencies,   the
     percentage change in average TiO2 selling prices in billing currencies will
     be higher or lower,  respectively,  than such  percentage  changes would be
     using actual exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods.
o    The  Company  discloses  segment  profit,  which  is used by the  Company's
     management to assess the performance of its component products  operations.
     The  Company   believes   disclosure  of  segment  profit  provides  useful
     information  to  investors  because  it allows  investors  to  analyze  the
     performance of the Company's  operations in the same way that the Company's
     management  assesses  performance.  The Company  defines  segment profit as
     income before income taxes,  interest expense and certain general corporate
     items.  Corporate items excluded from the  determination  of segment profit
     include  corporate  expense and  interest  income not  attributable  to the
     Company's operations.

NL Industries, Inc. is engaged in the component products (precision ball bearing
slides,  security products and ergonomic  computer support  systems),  chemicals
(titanium dioxide pigments) and other businesses.




                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                                   (Unaudited)

                   Three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2006
                    (In millions, except earnings per share)

<TABLE>

                                                               --------------------
                                                                 2005        2006
                                                                 ----        ----

<S>                                                            <C>         <C>
Net sales                                                      $   46.8    $   47.0
Cost of sales                                                      36.6        35.4
                                                               --------    --------

   Gross margin                                                    10.2        11.6

Selling, general and administrative expense                         6.1         6.7
Other operating income (expense):
   General corporate expenses, net                                 (5.8)       (4.1)

   Insurance recoveries                                              -          2.2
   Other income                                                      .2          -
                                                               --------    --------

     Income from operations                                        (1.5)        3.0

General corporate items:
   Interest and dividend income from affiliates                      .6          .5
   Other interest income                                             .9          .9
   Securities transactions gains, net                              14.6          .1
   Interest expense                                                 (.1)        (.1)
                                                               --------    --------

                                                                   14.5         4.4
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.                        7.8         5.3
                                                               --------    --------

     Income from continuing operations before
      income taxes and minority interest                           22.3         9.7

Provision for income taxes                                          6.8         2.5
Minority interest in after-tax earnings                              .7          .7
                                                               --------    --------

     Income from continuing operations                             14.8         6.5

Discontinued operations                                             (.3)         -
                                                               --------    --------

     Net income                                                $   14.5    $    6.5
                                                               ========    ========

Basic and diluted earnings per share:
   Continuing operations                                       $    .31    $    .13
   Discontinued operations                                         (.01)        -
                                                               --------    --------

     Net income                                                $    .30    $    .13
                                                               ========    ========

Weighted-average shares used in the
  calculation of earnings per share:
   Basic shares                                                   48.5        48.6

   Dilutive impact of stock options                                 .1          -
   Diluted shares                                                 48.6        48.6
</TABLE>




                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                       RECONCILIATION OF SEGMENT PROFIT TO
                             INCOME FROM OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)

                   Three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2006
                                  (In millions)

<TABLE>

                                                               --------------------
                                                                 2005        2006
                                                                 ----        ----

<S>                                                            <C>         <C>
   Segment profit - component products                         $    4.1    $    4.8
   Insurance recoveries                                              -          2.2
   Corporate expense                                               (5.8)       (4.1)
   Other, net                                                        .2          .1
                                                               --------    --------

   Income from operations                                      $   (1.5)   $    3.0
                                                               ========    ========
</TABLE>



                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                     RECONCILIATION OF PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN
                       KRONOS' AVERAGE TiO2 SELLING PRICES
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>

                                                                  Three months ended
                                                                       March 31,
                                                                     2006 vs. 2005
                                                                  ------------------

Percentage change in average selling prices:
<S>                                                                        <C>
    Using actual foreign currency exchange rates                          -3%
    Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates                  +5%
                                                                          ---
    In billing currencies                                                 +2%
                                                                          ===
</TABLE>