Susan E. Alderton
                                                                 (281) 423-3332


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                              NL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS


HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- January 26, 2000 -- NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  reported
income  from  continuing  operations  for the  fourth  quarter  of 1999 of $16.9
million ($.33 per diluted share) compared to income from  continuing  operations
in the fourth quarter of 1998 of $18.8 million ($.36 per diluted share). For the
full year,  NL reported  income  from  continuing  operations  in 1999 of $159.8
million ($3.08 per diluted share) compared to income from continuing  operations
in 1998 of $89.9  million  ($1.73 per share).  Excluding a  second-quarter  1999
income tax benefit of $90 million ($1.73 per diluted share) and a  third-quarter
1998 income tax benefit of $8.2 million  ($.16 per diluted  share),  income from
continuing  operations in 1999 would have been $69.8 million  ($1.35 per diluted
share) compared to $81.7 million ($1.57 per diluted share) for 1998.

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
fourth  quarter of 1999 was $35.8  million,  $4.2  million  less than the fourth
quarter of 1998,  primarily due to lower average TiO2 selling prices,  partially
offset by higher sales volume and higher  production  volume.  Kronos' operating
income for 1999 was $145.7  million,  down from $171.2  million in 1998,  due to
lower average TiO2 selling prices and lower production volume,  partially offset
by higher sales volume.

After three consecutive  quarters of declining  average selling prices,  Kronos'
average prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 increased 1% from the third quarter
of 1999.  European and export  average prices in the fourth quarter of 1999 rose
from the preceding quarter, while North American prices were unchanged.  Average
prices in the fourth  quarter  of 1999 were 3% lower than the fourth  quarter of
1998 and 1% lower than the average  selling  price for full-year  1999.  Average
prices for the full-year 1999 were 1% lower than 1998.  Prices at the end of the
fourth  quarter  were 1% higher  than the  average  for the  quarter.  J. Landis
Martin,  President and Chief  Executive  Officer,  stated,  "We are pleased that
pricing  appears to have turned the corner and we expect to continue to phase-in
price  increases  during the first  quarter of 2000. If demand  remains  strong,
additional price increase announcements are possible later in 2000."

Kronos'  fourth-quarter  and  full-year  sales  volumes  increased  21%  and 5%,
respectively,  from the comparable  year-earlier  periods, with strong demand in
all major regions.  The Company's  fourth-quarter  1999 production volume was 4%
higher than the comparable 1998 period,  while full-year 1999 production  volume
was 5% lower than 1998. Mr. Martin continued, "As we anticipated, we experienced
strong  demand in the fourth  quarter which allowed us to run our plants at full
capacity.  Demand in the fourth  quarter may have  reflected a certain amount of
customer



<PAGE>



buying in advance  of  anticipated  price  increases.  For 2000 we expect  sales
volumes to approximate  1999. As a result of  anticipated  higher average prices
and our continued focus on controlling costs, we expect NL's operating income in
2000 to be higher than 1999. The extent of this  improvement  will be determined
by the magnitude of realized price increases."

Interest expense for fourth-quarter and full-year 1999 was down $2.5 million and
$21.2 million, respectively, from the comparable year-earlier periods reflecting
significantly  lower levels of  outstanding  debt.  During the fourth quarter of
1999 NL borrowed $26 million of short-term  euro-denominated  bank debt and used
the  proceeds  along with cash on hand to prepay DM 100  million  ($52  million)
under its Deutsche  mark-denominated bank credit agreement.  The DM facility was
thereafter  terminated.   The  refinancing  reduced  borrowing  costs,  released
collateral and eliminated certain restrictive loan covenants.  The Company's net
debt at December 31, 1999 was $150 million (total debt of $302 million less cash
of $152 million), down $81 million from net debt of $231 million at December 31,
1998.

Minority  interest  relates  to  the  Company's   majority-owned   environmental
management subsidiary.  Discontinued  operations in 1998 represent the Company's
former  specialty  chemical  operations  which  were sold in January  1998.  The
extraordinary item in 1998 resulted from early extinguishment of debt.

A conference call for the investment community is scheduled for January 26, 2000
at 10:00 a.m., (EST). Mr. J. Landis Martin will host the call.  Participants can
access   the  call  by  dialing   800-288-8968   (domestic)   and   612-332-0632
(international). The passcode is NL Earnings. A taped replay of the call will be
available after 5:00 p.m.,  (EST),  the day of the call through February 2, 2000
by calling 800-475-6701 (domestic) and 320-365-3844  (international),  and using
access code  497318.  The call will also be  broadcast  live on the  Internet at
StreetEvents.com  and an online replay will be available  approximately one hour
after the call.

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 are  based on  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 assure that these  expectations will prove to be correct.
Such statements involve substantial 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.  Should one or more of these risks
materialize,  or should  the  underlying  assumptions  prove  incorrect,  actual
results could differ  materially from those forecasted or expected.  The Company
assumes no duty to update any  forward-looking  statements.  The Company's  1999
results are subject to completion of an audit and filing of Form 10-K.



<PAGE>



                                     NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                         CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       Quarters ended           Years ended
                                                         December 31,           December 31,
                                                      ------------------     -----------------
                                                      1998        1999       1998       1999
                                                      ----        ----       ----       ----
<S>                                                   <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales                                           $208.9      $231.6     $894.7     $908.4
  Other income, excluding corporate                      1.4         0.8        6.1       12.5
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------
                                                       210.3       232.4      900.8      920.9

Cost of sales                                          142.4       165.8      618.4      662.3
Selling, general and administrative,
 excluding corporate                                    27.9        30.8      111.2      112.9
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------
    Operating income                                    40.0        35.8      171.2      145.7

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings                                    2.2         1.8       14.9        6.6
  Expenses, net                                         (6.6)       (4.7)     (18.3)     (16.9)
  Interest expense                                     (11.2)       (8.7)     (58.1)     (36.9)
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------

    Income from continuing operations
     before income taxes and minority
     interest                                           24.4        24.2      109.7       98.5

Income tax benefit (expense)                            (5.6)       (6.2)     (19.8)      64.6
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------

    Income from continuing operations
     before minority interest                           18.8        18.0       89.9      163.1

Minority interest                                        -           1.1         -         3.3
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------
    Income from continuing operations                   18.8        16.9       89.9      159.8

Discontinued operations - Rheox                          -            -       287.4        -
Extraordinary item - early
 extinguishment of debt                                 (5.8)         -       (10.6)       -
                                                      ------      ------     ------     ------

    Net income                                        $ 13.0      $ 16.9     $366.7     $159.8
                                                      ======      ======     ======     ======
</TABLE>






<PAGE>


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

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


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          Quarters ended         Years ended
                                                            December 31,         December 31,
                                                          ---------------      ---------------
                                                          1998      1999       1998      1999
                                                          ----      ----       ----      ----
<S>                                                       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
Basic earnings per share:
  Continuing operations                                   $ .36     $ .33      $1.75     $3.09
  Discontinued operations                                    -         -        5.59       -
  Extraordinary item                                       (.11)       -        (.21)      -
                                                          ------    -----      -----     -----
  Net income                                              $ .25     $ .33      $7.13     $3.09
                                                          =====     =====      =====     =====


Diluted earnings per share:
  Continuing operations                                   $ .36     $ .33      $1.73     $3.08
  Discontinued operations                                    -         -        5.52        -
  Extraordinary item                                       (.11)       -        (.20)       -
                                                          -----     -----      -----     -----
  Net income                                              $ .25     $ .33      $7.05     $3.08
                                                          =====     =====      =====     =====



Shares used in the calculation of earnings per share:
  Basic shares                                             51.8      51.6       51.5      51.8
  Dilutive impact of stock options                           .2        .2         .5        .1
                                                          -----     -----      -----     -----

  Diluted shares                                           52.0      51.8       52.0      51.9
                                                          =====     =====      =====     =====

</TABLE>