Dennis G. Newkirk
                                                                (281) 423-3332


                                                                  EXHIBIT 99.1




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      NL REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS


HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- January 22, 1999 -- NL Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  reported
income  from  continuing  operations  for the  fourth  quarter  of 1998 of $18.8
million,  or  $.36  per  diluted  share,  compared  to  income  from  continuing
operations in the fourth  quarter of 1997 of $9.8  million,  or $.19 per diluted
share. For the full year, NL reported income from continuing operations of $89.9
million,  or $1.72 per diluted  share,  compared to a 1997 loss from  continuing
operations  of $29.9  million,  or $.58 per share.  The 1997  results  include a
first-quarter  $30 million  noncash  charge,  or $.59 per share,  related to the
adoption  of  the  AICPA's  Statement  of  Position  No.  96-1,   "Environmental
Remediation  Liabilities."  Net income for the fourth  quarter of 1998 was $13.0
million, or $.25 per diluted share, compared to net income in the fourth quarter
of 1997 of $14.2 million, or $.28 per diluted share.

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
fourth  quarter of 1998 was $40.0  million,  $11.1  million more than the fourth
quarter of 1997  excluding  $3.2  million of  fourth-quarter  1997  income  from
refunds of German franchise taxes.  Kronos'  operating income for 1998 increased
to $171.2 million compared to $82.5 million in 1997.  Kronos' improved operating
income in 1998 was due to higher average TiO2 selling prices partially offset by
lower  sales  volume and $12.9  million of 1997  income  from  refunds of German
franchise  taxes.  Kronos' average TiO2 selling prices for the fourth quarter of
1998 were 11%  higher  than the  fourth  quarter of 1997 and even with the third
quarter of 1998.  Average selling prices for full-year 1998 were 16% higher than
1997.  Kronos'  fourth-quarter  sales volume decreased 11% from the year-earlier
period as demand  weakened,  particularly  in Europe and Asia.  Full-year  sales
volume  decreased 4% from the record sales volume in 1997 reflecting lower sales
volume in Asia and Latin America.

Corporate  expenses  in the fourth  quarter  of 1998  included  $3.0  million of
nonrecurring  costs ($2.0 million after tax, or $.04 per diluted  share) related
to the  termination  of its  agreement to acquire  certain TiO2  operations  and
production  facilities  owned by Tioxide,  a  subsidiary  of  Imperial  Chemical
Industries plc.

J. Landis Martin,  President & Chief  Executive  Officer,  stated,  "NL's strong
performance  during 1998 was driven by improving TiO2 prices  despite  continued
weakness in Asia and a slowdown in  European  demand that began to impact  sales
volumes in the second half of the year. We expect that NL's operating  income in
1999 will be lower than 1998 as Kronos  reduces its  production  rates to better
match demand for TiO2."

                                Page 1 of 4

<PAGE>



As previously reported, the Company sold its Rheox specialty chemical operations
in the first quarter of 1998 and, as a result of the sale,  Rheox's  results are
reported as  discontinued  operations.  The $5.8 million  extraordinary  item in
fourth  quarter 1998 resulted from early  extinguishment  of debt related to the
October 1998 redemption of the Company's 13% Senior Secured  Discount Notes. The
Company's  net debt at December  31, 1998 was $227  million  (total debt of $394
million  less cash of $167  million),  declining  from $652  million net debt at
December 31, 1997.

A conference call for the investment community is scheduled for January 22, 1999
at 10:00 a.m.,  Eastern  Standard Time. Mr. J. Landis Martin will host the call.
Participants  can  access  the call by  dialing  1-888-455-9745  (domestic)  and
212-547-0224 (international). A taped replay of the call will be available after
12:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, the day of the call through February 21, 1999
by calling 1-888-473-0148 (domestic) and 402-998-1362 (international), and using
access code 56489.

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  made  by  management  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  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  1998  results are subject to final
audit.

                                Page 2 of 4

<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,
                                            -------------     -------------
                                            1997     1998     1997     1998
                                            ----     ----     ----     ----
<S>                                        <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales                                $208.1    $208.9   $837.2   $894.7
  Other income, excluding corporate           2.9       1.4     12.4      6.1
                                           ------    ------   ------   ------
                                            211.0     210.3    849.6    900.8

Cost of sales                               147.5     142.4    649.9    618.4
Selling, general and administrative,                                           
 excluding corporate                         31.4      27.9    117.2    111.2
                                           ------    ------   ------   ------

    Operating income                         32.1      40.0     82.5    171.2

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings                         3.6       2.2      5.4     14.9
  Expenses, net                              (5.5)     (6.6)   (49.8)   (18.3)
  Interest expense                          (16.6)    (11.2)   (65.8)   (58.1)
                                           ------    ------   ------   ------ 

    Income (loss) from continuing                                              
     operations before income taxes          13.6      24.4    (27.7)   109.7

Income tax expense                            3.8       5.6      2.2     19.8
                                           ------    ------   ------   ------

    Income (loss) from continuing                                              
     operations                               9.8      18.8    (29.9)    89.9

Discontinued operations - Rheox               4.4         -     20.4    287.4
Extraordinary item                             -       (5.8)      -     (10.6)
                                           ------    ------   ------   ------ 

    Net income (loss)                      $ 14.2    $ 13.0   $ (9.5)  $366.7
                                           ======    ======   ======   ======
</TABLE>


                                Page 3 of 4

<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,
                                          -------------       --------------
                                          1997     1998       1997      1998
                                          ----     ----       ----      ----
<S>                                       <C>      <C>        <C>       <C>
Basic earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations                   $ .19    $  .36     $ (.58)   $ 1.75
  Discontinued operations                   .09         -        .39      5.59
  Extraordinary item                        -        (.11)       -        (.21)
                                          -----    -------    ------    ------ 

  Net income (loss)                       $ .28    $  .25     $ (.19)   $ 7.13
                                          =====    ======     ======    ======



Diluted earnings per common share:
  Continuing operations                   $ .19    $  .36     $ (.58)   $ 1.72
  Discontinued operations                   .09         -        .39      5.52
  Extraordinary item                        -        (.11)       -        (.20)
                                          -----    ------     ------    ------ 

  Net income (loss)                       $ .28    $  .25     $ (.19)   $ 7.04
                                          =====    ======     ======    ======



Shares used in the calculation of
 earnings per share:
  Basic shares                             51.2      51.8       51.2      51.5
  Dilutive impact of stock options           .5        .2         -         .6
                                          -----    ------     ------    ------
  Diluted shares                           51.7      52.0       51.2      52.1
                                          =====    ======     ======    ======
</TABLE>



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