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

                        NL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

DALLAS,  TEXAS...May 10,  2005...NL  Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL) today reported
income from continuing  operations of $13.5 million,  or $.27 per diluted share,
in the first  quarter of 2005  compared  to $5.1  million,  or $.11 per  diluted
share, in the first quarter of 2004.

The Company conducts its component products business through CompX International
Inc.  Component  products  segment profit for the first quarter of 2005 was $4.2
million  compared  to $2.5  million  in the  first  quarter  of 2004.  Component
products  segment  profit  comparisons  in 2005 were  favorably  impacted by the
effect of certain cost reduction initiatives  previously  undertaken.  Component
products segment profit income  comparisons were also favorably  impacted by the
net effects of  increases  in the cost of steel (the  primary raw  material  for
CompX's products) and a favorable change in product mix of security products.

Following  the  Company's  July  2004  dividend  in the form of shares of Kronos
Worldwide,  Inc.  common stock  distributed  to NL  stockholders,  the Company's
ownership of Kronos was reduced to less than 50%.  Consequently,  effective July
1, 2004, the Company ceased to consolidate Kronos' financial  position,  results
of  operations  and cash flows,  and the Company  commenced  accounting  for its
interest in Kronos by the equity method.  The Company continued to report Kronos
as a consolidated  subsidiary through June 30, 2004, including the consolidation
of Kronos' results of operations and cash flows for the first half of 2004.

Kronos'  net sales of $291.9  million  in the first  quarter  of 2005 were $28.6
million, or 11%, higher than the first quarter of 2004 due to the net effects of
higher average TiO2 selling prices, lower sales volumes as well as the favorable
effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, which increased sales
by approximately $11 million.

Kronos' average selling prices in billing currencies (which excludes the effects
of fluctuations  in the value of the U.S.  dollar relative to other  currencies)
were 8% higher in the first  quarter of 2005 as compared to the first quarter of
2004.  Expressed in U.S. dollars computed using actual foreign currency exchange
rates prevailing during the respective  periods,  Kronos' average selling prices
in the first quarter of 2005 were 13% higher than the first quarter of 2004.

Kronos'  first  quarter  2005 TiO2  sales  volumes  decreased  3% from the first
quarter of 2004, due primarily to lower sales volumes in export markets. Kronos'
TiO2 production  volumes were 4% higher in the first quarter of 2005 as compared
to the first quarter of 2004, with operating rates at near full capacity in both
periods. Kronos' production volume in the first quarter of 2005 was a new record
for a first quarter.

Kronos' segment profit for the first quarter of 2005 was $48.0 million  compared
with $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2004.  Segment profit  comparison was
impacted by the net effects of the higher  average TiO2 selling  prices,  higher
production  volumes and lower sales volumes.  Fluctuations  in foreign  currency
exchange rates did not have a significant effect on segment profit comparison.

Securities  transactions  gains, net in 2005 includes a $14.6 million gain ($7.9
million,  or $.16  per  diluted  share,  net of  income  taxes)  related  to the
Company's sale of shares of Kronos common stock in market transactions.

General corporate  expenses,  net for 2005 decreased  compared to 2004 primarily
due to lower environmental remediation and legal expenses.

Interest expense decreased  primarily due to the change in accounting for Kronos
to the equity method as of July 1, 2004. Prior to July 1, 2004, interest expense
related to Kronos' debt was  included in the  Company's  consolidated  financial
statements. CompX has a nominal amount of outstanding debt at March 31, 2005.

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

o    Future supply and demand for the Company's products,
o    The extent of the  dependence  of certain of the  Company's  businesses  on
     certain market sectors,
o    The cyclicality of 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    Demand for office furniture,
o    Competitive   products  and  substitute   products,   including   increased
     competition from low-cost manufacturing sources,
o    Customer and competitor strategies,
o    The impact of pricing and production decisions,
o    Competitive technology positions,
o    The introduction of trade barriers,
o    Service industry employment levels,
o    Fluctuations in currency exchange rates,
o    Operating interruptions,
o    The ability of the Company to renew or refinance credit facilities,
o    The ultimate  outcome of income tax audits,  tax settlement  initiatives or
     other tax matters,
o    Potential difficulties in integrating completed or future acquisitions,
o    Decisions to sell  operating  assets  other than in the ordinary  course of
     business,
o    Uncertainties associated with new product development,
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  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 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  percentage  changes in Kronos' average TiO2 selling
     prices in  billing  currencies,  which  excludes  the  effects  of  foreign
     currency  translation.  The Company believes  disclosure of such percentage
     changes  allows  investors to analyze  such  changes  without the impact of
     changes  in  foreign   currency   exchange  rates,   thereby   facilitating
     period-to-period  comparisons of relative changes in average selling prices
     in the actual various billing currencies.  Generally,  when the U.S. dollar
     either  strengthens  or weakens  against other  currencies,  the percentage
     change in average  selling prices in billing  currencies  will be higher or
     lower,  respectively,  than such  percentage  changes would be using actual
     exchange rates prevailing during the respective periods.

NL Industries, Inc. is engaged in the component products (precision ball bearing
slides,  security  products and ergonomic  computer support  systems),  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
                                                                      March 31,
                                                               -------------------------
                                                                   2004        2005
                                                               -------------------------
<S>                                                               <C>          <C>
Net sales:
   Chemicals                                                      $  263.3     $   -
   Component products                                                 43.5        46.8
                                                                  --------     -------

                                                                  $  306.8       $46.8

Segment profit:
   Chemicals                                                      $   26.2     $   -
   Component products                                                  2.5         4.2
                                                                  --------     -------

     Total segment profit                                             28.7         4.2

General corporate items:
   Interest and dividend income from affiliates                         .8          .6
   Other interest income                                                .4          .9
   Securities transactions gains, net                                  -          14.6
   General corporate expenses, net                                    (6.7)       (5.8)
   Other income                                                        -            .1
   Interest expense                                                   (9.4)        (.1)
                                                                  --------     -------

                                                                      13.8        14.5
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.                           -           7.8
                                                                  --------     -------

     Income from continuing operations before
      income taxes and minority interest                              13.8        22.3

Income tax expense                                                     3.5         8.1
Minority interest in after-tax earnings                                5.2          .7
                                                                  --------     -------

     Income from continuing operations                                 5.1        13.5

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

     Net income                                                   $    5.1     $  13.2
                                                                  ========     =======

 Basic and diluted net income per share                           $    .11     $   .27
                                                                  ========     =======

Weighted-average shares used in the
  calculation of earnings per share:
   Basic shares                                                       48.1        48.5
   Dilutive impact of stock options                                     .2          .1
                                                                  --------     -------
   Diluted shares                                                     48.3        48.6
                                                                  ========     =======
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                     RECONCILIATION OF PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN
                       KRONOS' AVERAGE TiO2 SELLING PRICES
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                             Three months ended
                                                                  March 31,
                                                               2005 vs. 2004

Percentage change in average selling prices:
    Using actual foreign currency exchange rates                        +13%
    Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates                 -5%
                                                                        ----
    In billing currencies                                                +8%
                                                                        ====