Susan E. Alderton
                                                                 (281) 423-3332


                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.3



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       NL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS WITH 42% HIGHER OPERATING INCOME
         AND $43 MILLION SETTLEMENT GAIN WITH A FORMER INSURANCE CARRIER

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- July 19, 2000 -- NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE: NL) today reported
net income for the second quarter of 2000 of $1.25 per diluted share including a
$.54 per  diluted  share  net-of-tax  settlement  gain  with a former  insurance
carrier, discussed below. Net income in the second quarter of 1999 was $2.16 per
diluted share including a $1.73 per diluted share income tax benefit.  Excluding
the 2000 settlement  gain and 1999 income tax benefit,  net income in the second
quarter of 2000 was $.71 per diluted  share,  up 69% from $.42 per diluted share
reported in the second quarter of 1999.

Net income for the first half of 2000 was $1.71 per  diluted  share  compared to
net income in the first half of 1999 of $2.42 per diluted  share.  Excluding the
2000 settlement  gain and 1999 income tax benefit,  net income in the first half
of 2000 was $1.17 per diluted share, up 70% from $.69 per diluted share reported
in the first half of 1999.

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
second quarter of 2000 increased 42% to $62.7 million  compared to $44.1 million
in the second quarter of 1999. The improved operating income is primarily due to
higher average selling prices in billing  currencies (which excludes the effects
of foreign currency  translation)  and record sales volume,  partially offset by
the  previously  reported  second-quarter  1999 $5.3  million  foreign  currency
transaction  gain.  Second-quarter  operating income improved 36% over the $46.2
million  reported in the first quarter of 2000 on strong  economic  fundamentals
resulting in 3% higher average selling prices in billing  currencies,  9% higher
sales volume and 4% higher production volume.

Operating  income  in the first  half of 2000  increased  45% to $109.0  million
compared  to $75.1  million in the first  half of 1999 due to 3% higher  average
selling  prices in billing  currencies,  16% higher  sales  volume and 8% higher
production volume.

Kronos' average selling prices in billing  currencies  during the second quarter
of 2000 were 5% higher  than the  second  quarter of 1999 and at the end of June
were 1% higher than average  selling prices during the second  quarter.  Kronos'
prices were up in all major regions from the second quarter of 1999. Prices were
higher in Europe and export markets from the first quarter of 2000 and were flat
in North America.

Kronos'  second-quarter  2000 average  selling price  expressed in U.S.  dollars
computed using actual foreign  currency  exchange  rates  prevailing  during the
respective periods
decreased 1% from both the second quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000.
Comparisons  of Kronos'  average  selling  price using actual  foreign  currency
exchange rates are  significantly  affected by the recent volatility of the U.S.
dollar relative to the euro and other European  currencies.  Since a majority of
Kronos'  production  and other costs are incurred in  currencies  other than the
U.S. dollar,  foreign currency volatility similarly affects costs, therefore the
effect of  fluctuating  currency  exchange  rates on  operating  income  was not
significant.

<PAGE>


Kronos'  second-quarter  sales volume  represents the highest quarter in Kronos'
history.  Sales volume increased 9% from both the second quarter of 1999 and the
first quarter of 2000,  reflecting sustained demand in all major regions.  Sales
volume in the first half of 2000 was 16%, or 31,000 metric tons, higher than the
first half of 1999.  The Company's  second-quarter  2000  production  volume was
slightly  higher than the comparable  1999 period with  operating  rates in both
periods near full capacity.

Dr. Lawrence Wigdor,  Kronos'  President and CEO, stated, "I am pleased with the
current quarter's operating results and I am optimistic that the tight supply in
the industry will continue to allow prices to rise to more acceptable levels. We
have recently announced price increases of 7% in Europe and 4% in North America,
both of which we expect, depending on market conditions, to implement during the
second half of 2000. Our efforts to  debottleneck  our production  facilities to
meet long-term demand continue to prove successful. We expect Kronos' production
capacity  will be increased  by 25,000  metric  tons,  with only modest  capital
expenditures,  bringing our  capacity to  approximately  465,000  metric tons by
2002.  Kronos is on track to produce more in 2000 than the record 434,000 metric
tons it produced in 1998."

Corporate  income  and  expense in the  second  quarter  of 2000  includes a $43
million  pre-  tax net gain  from a June  2000  settlement  with one of NL's two
principal  former  insurance  carriers.  The settlement ends a court  proceeding
against the carrier that NL initiated to seek  reimbursement  for legal  defense
expenditures and indemnity coverage for certain of its environmental remediation
expenditures.  Mr. J. Landis Martin, NL's President and CEO, stated, "The end of
this lengthy  litigation and the settlement are very positive  developments  for
NL's  shareholders.  We will  continue to  vigorously  pursue  resolution of our
remaining coverage  disputes."  Proceeds from the settlement were transferred by
the carrier in early July to a special  purpose trust  established to pay future
remediation and other  environmental  expenditures of NL. Cash held by the trust
will be reported as restricted cash on NL's balance sheet.  Corporate income and
expense in the second  quarter of 2000 also  includes a $5.6 million  securities
gain related to common stock received from the  demutualization  of Met Life, an
insurance company from which NL had purchased certain insurance policies, and is
partially   offset  by  higher   corporate   expenses   associated  with  higher
environmental and legal expenses.

Interest  expense  in the  second  quarter  and first half of 2000 was down $1.4
million and $3.3 million, respectively,  from the comparable periods in 1999 due
to reduced levels of outstanding debt and lower European borrowing rates. During
the second  quarter,  the Company  repaid $16.7 million of its  euro-denominated
short-term debt with excess cash flow from operations.




<PAGE>



The  Company's  net debt at June 30, 2000 was $126  million  (total debt of $281
million less cash of $155 million) down $22 million from March 31, 2000 levels.

Minority  interest  relates  to  the  Company's   majority-owned   environmental
management subsidiary.

A conference call for the investment community is scheduled for July 19, 2000 at
9:30 a.m. (EDT). Mr. Martin will host the call. Participants can access the call
by  dialing  800-450-0785  (domestic)  and  612-332-0228  (international).   The
passcode is NL  Earnings.  A taped  replay of the call will be  available  after
12:30  p.m.  (EDT)  the  day of the  call  through  July  26,  2000  by  calling
800-475-6701 (domestic) and 320-365-3844 (international),  and using access code
525431. 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  (and  statements  made in the  call  with the
investment  community  referred  to  above)  relating  to  matters  that are not
historical  facts are forward-  looking  statements that represent  management's
beliefs   and   assumptions   based   on   currently   available    information.
Forward-looking  statements  can be  identified  by the  use of  words  such  as
"believes,"  "intends,"  "may," "will," "should,"  "anticipates,"  "expects," or
comparable  terminology or by  discussions  of strategy or trends.  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  risks and
uncertainties,  including,  but not limited to, the  cyclicality of the titanium
dioxide  industry,  global  economic  conditions,  global  productive  capacity,
customer inventory levels,  changes in product pricing,  competitive  technology
positions,  operating  interruptions  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  labor
disputes,  leaks,  fires,  explosions,  unscheduled  downtime and transportation
interruptions),  the  ultimate  resolution  of pending or  possible  future lead
pigment  litigation  and  legislative  developments  related  to the lead  paint
litigation,  the outcome of other litigation,  and other risks and uncertainties
detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. 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 assumes
no duty to update any forward- looking statements.



<PAGE>



                                     NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Quarters ended        Six months ended
                                                       June 30,               June 30,
                                                   ----------------       ------------------
                                                   1999        2000       1999        2000
                                                   ----        ----       -----       ----
<S>                                                <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales                                        $232.6      $251.1     $434.1      $482.1
  Other income, excluding corporate                   6.9         2.5       10.6         4.1
                                                      ---         ---       ----         ---
                                                    239.5       253.6      444.7       486.2

Cost of sales                                       167.8       164.0      314.8       323.3
Selling, general and administrative, excluding
 corporate                                           27.6        26.9       54.8        53.9
                                                     ----        ----       ----        ----
    Operating income                                 44.1        62.7       75.1       109.0

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings                                 1.5         7.4        3.1         9.2
  Litigation settlement gain, net and other
    income                                            1.2        44.1        2.3        45.2
  Expenses                                           (5.4)      (10.0)     (10.7)      (16.3)
  Interest expense                                   (9.3)       (7.9)     (19.1)      (15.8)
                                                     ----        ----      -----       -----

    Income before income taxes and minority
     interest                                        32.1        96.3       50.7       131.3

Income tax benefit (expense)                         81.9       (32.8)      77.4       (44.0)
                                                     ----       -----       ----       -----

    Income before minority interest                 114.0        63.5      128.1        87.3

Minority interest                                     2.2          .1        2.3          .2
                                                      ---          --        ---          --

    Net income                                     $111.8      $ 63.4     $125.8      $ 87.1
                                                   ======      ======     ======      ======

Earnings per share:
  Basic                                           $  2.16       $1.26    $  2.43       $1.72
                                                  =======       =====    =======       =====
  Diluted                                         $  2.16       $1.25    $  2.42       $1.71
                                                  =======       =====    =======       =====

Weighted average shares used in the calculation of earnings per share:
  Basic shares                                       51.8        50.5       51.8        50.7
  Dilutive impact of stock options                     .1          .4         .1          .3
                                                       --          --         --          --
  Diluted shares                                     51.9        50.9       51.9        51.0
                                                     ====        ====       ====        ====

</TABLE>