Susan E. Alderton
                                                       Chief Financial Officer
                                                                (281) 423-3332

                                                                  Exhibit 99.1



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

               NL REPORTS 82% INCREASE IN THIRD QUARTER EARNINGS PER SHARE

HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- October  18, 2000 -- NL  Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:  NL) today
reported net income of $.60 per diluted  share for the third quarter of 2000, an
82% improvement from the $.33 per diluted share reported in the third quarter of
1999.

Net  income  for the first  nine  months of 2000 was  $2.31  per  diluted  share
including a second-quarter  $.54 per diluted share settlement gain with a former
insurance  carrier.  Net income in the first  nine  months of 1999 was $2.75 per
diluted  share  including a second-  quarter  $1.73 per diluted share income tax
benefit.  Excluding the 2000  settlement  gain and 1999 income tax benefit,  net
income in the first nine months of 2000 was $1.77 per diluted share, up 74% from
$1.02 per diluted share reported in the first nine months of 1999.

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
third quarter of 2000  increased 65% to $57.5 million  compared to $34.8 million
in the third quarter of 1999. The improved  operating income is primarily due to
10%  higher  average  selling  prices  in  billing  currencies  and  14%  higher
production  volume,  partially  offset by 4% lower sales  volume.  Third-quarter
operating  income declined from the $62.7 million reported in the second quarter
of 2000 due to 6% lower  sales  volume  partially  offset by 3%  higher  average
selling prices in billing currencies and 3% higher production volume. The second
quarter of 2000 also reflects $4.1 million of accrued insurance reimbursements.

Operating  income  in the first  nine  months  of 2000  increased  52% to $166.5
million  compared  to $109.9  million in the first nine months of 1999 due to 5%
higher  average  selling  prices in billing  currencies,  10% higher  production
volume and 8% higher sales volume.

Kronos' average selling prices in billing currencies (which excludes the effects
of  foreign  currency  translation)  during  the third  quarter of 2000 were 10%
higher than in the third  quarter of 1999.  Prices at the end of September  were
slightly  higher than average  selling prices during the third quarter.  Kronos'
prices  were up in all major  regions  from the third  quarter  of 1999 with the
greatest improvement being realized in the European and export markets. Compared
to the second quarter of 2000,  prices were 5% higher in Europe and 4% higher in
the export markets.  Prices were flat in North America versus the second quarter
of 2000.

Kronos'  third-quarter  2000 average  selling prices  expressed in U.S.  dollars
computed using actual foreign  currency  exchange  rates  prevailing  during the
respective  periods  increased 4% from the third quarter of 1999 and 2% from the
second  quarter of 2000.  Comparisons  of Kronos'  average  selling prices using
actual foreign currency exchange rates are



<PAGE>



significantly affected by the recent strength of the U.S. dollar relative to the
euro and other European currencies.  Since a majority of Kronos' net sales and a
majority of its production and other costs are incurred in currencies other than
the U.S.  dollar,  the net  effect of  foreign  currency  volatility  on Kronos'
operating income was not significant.

Susan E. Alderton,  Chief Financial Officer,  stated, "The continued strength of
the U.S.  dollar  relative to European  currencies has hurt the earnings of many
U.S. multinational companies. Fortunately, NL's cost structure mitigates a large
part of the impact of currency volatility on our earnings."

Kronos'  third-quarter 2000 sales volume was at near record levels and decreased
4% from the third quarter of 1999 and 6% from the second quarter of 2000.  Sales
volume in the first nine months of 2000 was 8% higher than the first nine months
of 1999. The Company's  third-quarter 2000 production volume was 14% higher than
the  comparable  1999 period  with  operating  rates near full  capacity in 2000
compared to 90% in the third quarter of 1999. Finished goods inventory levels at
the end of September remained even with June 2000 levels  representing about 1.5
months of sales in inventory.

J. Landis Martin, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are pleased
with NL's operating  results in the third quarter.  We expect TiO2 prices during
the fourth quarter of 2000 to be slightly higher than average TiO2 prices in the
third  quarter of 2000.  TiO2 sales  volume  declined  modestly  from the record
levels  achieved in third quarter of 1999 and the second  quarter of 2000 and we
expect TiO2 demand in the fourth  quarter of 2000 will also be moderately  below
that of the record  fourth  quarter of 1999.  For the  remainder  of the year we
intend to operate our plants near full  capacity  to meet  anticipated  customer
demand."

Corporate income in 2000 includes a  second-quarter  $43 million net gain from a
settlement with a former insurance carrier. Securities earnings in 2000 includes
a second-quarter  $5.6 million  securities gain related to common stock received
from the  demutualization  of an insurance  company from which NL had  purchased
certain insurance policies.

Corporate  expense in the third quarter of 2000 was $6.8 million or $2.0 million
higher than the third  quarter of 1999,  primarily  as a result of higher  legal
expenses.  Corporate  expense in the nine months  ended  September  30, 2000 was
$23.0 million or $7.2 million higher than the 1999 period, primarily as a result
of higher legal expenses and higher environmental remediation accruals.

Interest  expense in the third  quarter  and first nine  months of 2000 was down
$1.4 million and $4.6 million, respectively, from the comparable periods in 1999
primarily due to reduced levels of outstanding euro-denominated debt. During the
third quarter of 2000, the Company repaid $12.2 million of its  euro-denominated
short-term debt with cash flow from operations.

The Company's  net debt at September 30, 2000 was $79 million,  down $47 million
from June 30, 2000. Net debt at September 30, 2000 is comprised of total debt of
$267 million less cash and restricted cash of $188 million.



<PAGE>




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

A conference call regarding NL's earnings  announcement is scheduled for October
18, 2000 at 11:00 a.m. (EDT).  Mr. Martin will host the call.  Participants  can
access   the  call  by  dialing   888-273-9891   (domestic)   and   612-332-0226
(international). The passcode is ll NL Earnings. A taped replay of the call will
be available  after 2:30 p.m.  (EDT) the day of ll the call through  October 25,
2000 by calling 800-475-6701 (domestic) and 320-365-3844 ll (international), and
using  access  code  541757.  The call  will  also be  broadcast  live on the ll
Internet  at   StreetEvents.com   and  an  online   replay  will  be   available
approximately one hour ll after the call. ll

NL  Industries,  Inc. is a major  international  producer  of  titanium  dioxide
pigments.

The  statements  in this release (and  statements  made in the  conference  call
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       Nine months ended
                                                    September 30,           September 30,
                                                   ----------------      -----------------
                                                   1999        2000        1999       2000
                                                   ----        ----        ----       ----
<S>                                              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues and other income:
  Net sales ..................................   $ 242.6    $ 242.3    $ 676.8    $ 724.4
  Other income, excluding corporate ..........       1.2        1.4       11.7        5.6
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------
                                                   243.8      243.7      688.5      730.0

Cost of sales ................................     181.7      159.0      496.6      482.3
Selling, general and administrative, excluding
 corporate ...................................      27.3       27.2       82.0       81.2
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Operating income .........................      34.8       57.5      109.9      166.5

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings ........................       1.7        2.5        4.8       11.6
  Litigation settlement gain, net and other
    income ...................................       1.1        1.0        3.5       46.2
  Expenses ...................................      (4.8)      (6.8)     (15.8)     (23.0)
  Interest expense ...........................      (9.1)      (7.7)     (28.1)     (23.5)
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Income before income taxes and minority
     interest ................................      23.7       46.5       74.3      177.8

Income tax benefit (expense) .................      (6.6)     (14.8)      70.9      (58.8)
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Income before minority interest ..........      17.1       31.7      145.2      119.0

Minority interest ............................      --          1.5        2.3        1.7
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------

    Net income ...............................   $  17.1    $  30.2    $ 142.9    $ 117.3
                                                 =======    =======    =======    =======

Earnings per share:
  Basic ......................................   $   .33    $   .60    $  2.76    $  2.32
                                                 =======    =======    =======    =======
  Diluted ....................................   $   .33    $   .60    $  2.75    $  2.31
                                                 =======    =======    =======    =======

Weighted average shares used in the
 calculation of earnings per share:
  Basic shares ...............................      51.8       50.2       51.8       50.5
  Dilutive impact of stock options ...........        .1         .4         .1         .4
                                                 -------    -------    -------    -------
  Diluted shares .............................      51.9       50.6       51.9       50.9
                                                 =======    =======    =======    =======


</TABLE>