Dennis G. Newkirk
                                                           (281) 423-3332


                                                            EXHIBIT  99.1




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                           NL REPORTS 1996 RESULTS

HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- January 30, 1997 -- NL Industries,  Inc. (NYSE:NL)  announced
net  income  for 1996 of $10.8  million,  or $.21  per  share,  on sales of $986
million compared to net income for 1995 of $85.6 million, or $1.66 per share. NL
reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of 1996 of $10.3 million, or $.20 per
share, on sales of $234 million  compared to net income in the fourth quarter of
1995 of $34.1 million, or $.66 per share. The 1996 operating results as compared
to 1995 were adversely  impacted by lower  titanium  dioxide  pigments  ("TiO2")
selling prices.

Operating  income of Kronos' TiO2 business in 1996 was $71.6  million,  an $89.6
million  decrease  compared  to  1995 on a 5%  decrease  in net  sales.  Kronos'
operating income in the fourth quarter of 1996 of $7.1 million was $33.7 million
lower than the 1995 period.  Average TiO2 selling  prices for the fourth quarter
of 1996 were 17% lower than the same  period in 1995 and 3% lower than the third
quarter of 1996.  Selling prices at the end of 1996 were 17% below year-end 1995
levels,  8% below the  average  for 1996 and were 1% below the  average  selling
prices during the fourth quarter of 1996.  Kronos continued to experience strong
demand in the fourth  quarter  as sales  volumes  were 17% higher  than the same
period in 1995, and volumes for full-year 1996 increased 6% compared to 1995.

Looking ahead, J. Landis Martin,  President and CEO, stated,  "We anticipate our
TiO2  operating  margins will begin to improve in the second  quarter of 1997 as
the impact of recently-announced  TiO2 price increases take effect.  However, we
expect  1997's  operating  income at Kronos to be below that of 1996,  primarily
because we anticipate  average TiO2 prices for 1997 will be below average prices
for 1996.  Demand for TiO2 in 1996  increased  over 1995 and we expect demand to
remain  strong in 1997. We believe  continued  growth in demand should result in
significant improvement in average selling prices over the longer term."

Rheox's operating income for 1996 rose $3.3 million from the year-earlier period
to a record  $41.8  million due to 5% higher sales  volumes and a  first-quarter
1996 $2.7 million gain related to the reduction of certain U.S. employee pension
benefits.

Income tax  expense in 1996  differs  from a  normally-expected  rate  primarily
because  of losses  in  certain  countries  for which no  benefit  is  currently
available.



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On January 30, 1997, the Company refinanced its Rheox indebtedness,  obtaining a
net $125 million of new long-term financing.  The net proceeds, along with other
available  funds,  will be used to prepay DM 207 million  ($127  million) of the
Company's  Deutsche  mark-denominated  term loan and to repay DM 43 million ($26
million)  outstanding  under  the  Company's   DM-denominated  revolving  credit
facility,  leaving DM 130 million ($80  million)  available  for  borrowing.  In
connection  with the  prepayment,  the Company  and its  lenders  are  modifying
certain financial covenants of the DM credit agreement.

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments and  specialty  chemicals.  The  Company's  1996 results are subject to
final audit.

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  conditions,  global TiO2 productive
capacity,  competitive  products  and prices and other  risks and  uncertainties
detailed in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.


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                             NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
               CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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


<TABLE>

                                           Quarter ended           Year ended
                                            December 31,           December 31,
                                       -------------------   ---------------------
                                          1995       1996        1995       1996
                                       --------- ---------   ---------  ----------
<S>                                    <C>       <C>         <C>         <C>   
Net sales
  Kronos ............................  $   204.7 $   201.5   $   894.1   $   851.2
  Rheox .............................       29.6      32.5       129.8       134.9
                                       --------- ---------   ---------   ---------

                                       $   234.3 $   234.0   $ 1,023.9   $   986.1
                                       ========= =========   =========   =========

Operating income
  Kronos ............................  $    40.8 $     7.1   $   161.2   $    71.6
  Rheox .............................        8.8       8.8        38.5        41.8
                                       --------- ---------   ---------   ---------

    Operating income ................       49.6      15.9       199.7       113.4

General corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings ...............        1.5       1.1         7.4         4.7
  Expenses, net .....................       (6.6)     (5.1)      (26.6)      (17.5)
  Interest expense ..................      (19.6)    (18.9)      (81.6)      (75.0)
                                       --------- ---------   ---------   ---------

    Income (loss) before income taxes       24.9      (7.0)       98.9        25.6

Income tax benefit (expense) ........        9.5      (3.3)      (12.7)      (14.8)

Minority interest ...................        (.3)     --           (.6)       --
                                       --------- ---------   ---------   ---------

    Net income (loss) ...............  $    34.1 $   (10.3)  $    85.6   $    10.8
                                       ========= =========   =========   =========

Per share of common stock ...........  $     .66 $    (.20)  $    1.66   $     .21
                                       ========= =========   =========   =========

Weighted average common shares
 and common share equivalents
 outstanding ........................       51.5      51.1        51.5        51.3
                                       ========= =========   =========   =========
</TABLE>



<PAGE>