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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                        NL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

DALLAS,  TEXAS - August 4, 2006 - NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL) today reported
income from continuing operations of $3.1 million, or $.06 per diluted share, in
the  second  quarter of 2006  compared  to income of $9.9  million,  or $.20 per
diluted share,  in the second quarter of 2005. For the first six months of 2006,
NL reported  income from  continuing  operations  of $9.5  million,  or $.19 per
diluted share,  compared to income of $24.7 million,  or $.50 per diluted share,
in the first six months of 2005.

Component products sales increased in the second quarter and first six months of
2006 as  compared  to the same  periods of 2005 due mainly to the net effects of
sales volumes  generated from the August 2005 and April 2006 acquisitions of two
marine  component  businesses,  a general  increase  in sales  volume to new and
existing security  products  customers offset by lower sales volumes for certain
furniture component products resulting from increased Asian competition,  and an
unfavorable   Canadian  dollar  exchange  rate  which  has  caused   operational
difficulties  for many of CompX's  Canadian  customers.  In addition,  component
products sales were favorably  impacted by relative  changes in foreign currency
exchange  rates,  which  increased  sales by  approximately  $.5  million in the
quarter and $.7 million in the first six months of the year compared to the same
periods in 2005.  Component products operating income comparisons were favorably
impacted by an improved  product mix due to a decline in lower-margin  furniture
component  sales and an increase in sales of  higher-margin  security and marine
component  products,  as well as the favorable  impact of a continuous  focus on
reducing  costs  across all  product  lines.  In  addition,  component  products
operating  income  comparisons  were negatively  impacted by relative changes in
foreign   currency   exchange  rates,   which  decreased   operating  income  by
approximately  $.7 million in the quarter and $1.0  million in the  year-to-date
period.

Kronos' sales  increased $33.4 million in the second quarter of 2006 compared to
the second quarter of 2005, and increased  $45.9 million in the first six months
of 2006 compared to the same period in 2005.  Net sales  increased in the second
quarter of 2006 primarily due to higher TiO2 sales volumes,  partially offset by
lower average TiO2 selling prices, and to the unfavorable effect of fluctuations
in foreign  currency  exchange rates,  which decreased sales by approximately $4
million.  For the  year-to-date  period,  net sales increased due to higher TiO2
sales volumes, as well as higher average TiO2 selling prices, both of which were
partially  offset by the unfavorable  effect of fluctuations in foreign currency
exchange rates, which decreased sales by approximately $19 million. The table at
the end of this  release  shows how each of these  items  impacted  the  overall
increase in TiO2 sales.

Kronos' increase in TiO2 sales volumes in 2006 was due primarily to higher sales
volumes in the country-regionUnited  States, Europe and in export markets, which
were  somewhat  offset  by lower  sales  volumes  in  placecountry-regionCanada.
Operating income  comparisons were favorably  impacted by higher TiO2 production
volumes,  which were 2% higher in the second  quarter of 2006 as compared to the
second quarter of 2005, and 3% higher in the year-to-date  period.  Kronos' TiO2
production  facilities  were  operating at near-full  capacity for both 2005 and
2006. Both TiO2 sales and production volumes set records for Kronos in the first
six months of 2006. Kronos' operating income comparison was negatively  impacted
by higher  manufacturing  costs,  particularly  raw material and energy,  and by
fluctuations  in foreign  currency  exchange rates,  which  decreased  operating
income by  approximately  $11  million  for the  quarter and $16 million for the
year-to-date period.

Kronos  recognized a $22.3 million  pre-tax charge in the second quarter of 2006
related to the early  redemption  of their  8.875%  Senior  Secured  Notes (NL's
equity  interest  was  $5.2  million,  or $.11  per  diluted  share,  net of tax
benefit). In April 2006 Kronos' wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Kronos International,
Inc.  ("KII") issued an aggregate  principal amount of euro 400 million new 6.5%
Senior  Secured Notes due April 2013. KII used the proceeds from the issuance of
the 6.5% Senior  Secured Notes to redeem all of its 8.875% Senior  Secured Notes
in May 2006 at 104.437% of the aggregate  principal  amount of euro 375 million.
Kronos also  recognized an aggregate  $12.5  million  income tax benefit in 2006
(NL's equity  interest was $2.9  million  after tax, or $.06 per diluted  share)
related to Kronos'  aggregate income tax benefit  associated with the withdrawal
of certain income tax  assessments  previously made by the Belgian and Norwegian
tax  authorities,  favorable  developments  with  respect to certain  income tax
issues in Belgium and Germany and the  enactment  of a reduction in the Canadian
federal income tax rate.

Securities  transactions  gains in 2005  relate to a $14.7  million  gain  ($8.0
million,  or $.17  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 six  months  of 2006 of $2.8  million  ($1.8
million or $.04 per diluted  share,  net of tax) and $.6 million ($.4 million or
$.01 per diluted share, net of tax) in the second quarter of 2006 represent NL's
recovery from certain former insurance  carriers in settlement of claims related
to certain  environmental,  indemnity and past litigation  defense costs. NL had
insurance  recoveries in the second quarter and first six months of 2005 of $1.2
million ($.8 million or $.02 per diluted share, net of tax).

Corporate  expenses were higher in the second quarter of 2006 as compared to the
second quarter of 2005 due to higher  environmental and legal expenses.  Year to
date  corporate  expenses were slightly  higher than in 2005 due to higher legal
expenses, partially offset by lower environmental expenses.

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.  Among the factors
that could cause actual future results to differ materially include, but are not
limited to:

o    Future supply and demand for the Company's products,
o    The extent of the dependence of the Company's  businesses on certain market
     sectors,
o    The cyclicality of certain of the Company's businesses,
o    The  impact of certain  long-term  contracts  on  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    Competitive products and substitute products,
o    Possible  disruption of business or increases in the cost of doing business
     resulting from terrorist activities or global conflicts,
o    Customer and competitor strategies,
o    The impact of pricing and production decisions,
o    Competitive technology positions,
o    The introduction of trade barriers,
o    Fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
o    Operating interruptions,
o    The timing and amount of insurance recoveries,
o    The ability of the Company to renew or refinance credit facilities,
o    The extent to which the Company's subsidiaries were to become unable to pay
     dividends to the Company,
o    Uncertainties associated with new product development,
o    The ultimate  outcome of income tax audits,  tax settlement  initiatives or
     other tax matters,
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  currently  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 accounting principles generally
accepted in the United  States of America  ("GAAP"),  the Company has  disclosed
certain  non-GAAP  information,  which  the  Company  believes  provides  useful
information to investors:

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  (security  products,
furniture  components and performance marine  components),  chemicals  (titanium
dioxide pigments) and other businesses.



<PAGE>


                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                    (In millions, except earnings per share)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Three months ended          Six months ended
                                                                       June 30,                   June 30,
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                   2005         2006         2005          2006
                                                                ----------  -----------  ------------  -------------

<S>                                                             <C>         <C>           <C>          <C>
Net sales                                                       $     45.7  $     50.1    $     92.6   $     97.2
Cost of sales                                                         35.2        37.8          71.8         73.2
                                                                ----------  ----------    ----------   ----------

   Gross margin                                                       10.5        12.3          20.8         24.0

Selling, general and administrative expense                            5.8         6.5          11.9         13.2
Other operating income (expense):
   General corporate expenses, net                                    (4.2)       (6.4)        (10.1)       (10.5)
   Insurance recoveries                                                1.2          .6           1.2          2.8
   Other, net                                                           -            -            .2          (.2)
                                                               -----------  ----------   -----------  -----------

     Income from operations                                            1.7           -            .2          2.9

General corporate items:
   Interest and dividend income from affiliates                         .6          .5           1.2           .9
   Other interest income                                                .8          .8           1.7          1.8
   Securities transactions gains, net                                   .1         -            14.7           .1
   Interest expense                                                    (.1)        (.1)          (.2)         (.1)
                                                               -----------  ----------   -----------  -----------

                                                                       3.1         1.2          17.6          5.6
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.                          11.8         4.9          19.6         10.2
                                                               -----------  ----------   -----------  -----------

     Income from continuing operations before
        income taxes and minority interest                            14.9         6.1          37.2         15.8

Provision for income taxes                                             4.2         1.9          11.0          4.4
Minority interest in after-tax earnings                                 .8         1.1           1.5          1.9
                                                               -----------  ----------   -----------  -----------

     Income from continuing operations                                 9.9         3.1          24.7          9.5

Discontinued operations                                                  -         (.2)          (.3)         (.2)
                                                               -----------  ----------   -----------  -----------

     Net income                                                $       9.9  $      2.9   $      24.4  $       9.3
                                                               ===========  ==========   ===========  ===========

   Basic and diluted net income per share                      $       .20  $      .06   $       .50  $       .19
                                                               ===========  ==========   ===========  ===========

Weighted-average shares used in the
  calculation of earnings per share:
   Basic shares                                                       48.6        48.6          48.5         48.6
   Dilutive impact of stock options                                       -          -            .1           -
                                                               ------------ ----------   -----------  -----------
   Diluted shares                                              $      48.6  $     48.6   $      48.6  $      48.6
                                                               ===========  ==========   ===========  ===========
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Three months ended        Six months ended
                                                                      June 30,                 June 30,
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                                                                  2005         2006        2005        2006
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
   <S>                                                         <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>
   Segment profit - component products                         $     4.7     $     5.8   $     8.9    $   10.6
   Insurance recoveries                                              1.2            .6         1.2         2.8
   Corporate expense                                                (4.2)         (6.4)      (10.1)      (10.5)
   Other, net                                                          -             -          .2          -
                                                               ---------    ----------   ---------   ---------

       Income from operations                                  $     1.7    $       -    $      .2   $     2.9
                                                               =========    ==========   =========   =========

</TABLE>


                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                          CHANGE IN KRONOS' TiO2 SALES
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Three months ended            Six months ended
                                                                       June 30,                     June 30,
                                                                     2006 vs. 2005                2006 vs. 2005
                                                                   ----------------            ----------------
<S>                                                                        <C>                         <C>
Percentage change in sales:
    TiO2 product pricing                                                     -1%                          1%
    TiO2 sales volume                                                        14%                         11%
    TiO2 product mix                                                         -1%                         -1%
    Changes in foreign currency exchange rates                               -1%                         -3%
                                                                           -----                       -----

          Total                                                              11%                          8%
                                                                           =====                       =====
</TABLE>