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


                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1






FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                       NL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS


HOUSTON,  TEXAS -- April 26,  1999 -- NL  Industries,  Inc.  (NYSE:NL)  reported
income  from  continuing  operations  for the  first  quarter  of 1999 of  $13.9
million,  or  $.27  per  diluted  share,  compared  to  income  from  continuing
operations  in the first quarter of 1998 of $16.3  million,  or $.31 per diluted
share.

Operating income of Kronos' titanium dioxide pigments  ("TiO2")  business in the
first  quarter  of 1999 was  $31.0  million,  $8.4  million  less than the first
quarter of 1998, primarily due to lower production and sales volumes,  partially
offset by higher average  selling  prices.  Kronos'  first-quarter  sales volume
decreased  16% from the  record  sales  volume in the first  quarter  of 1998 as
worldwide  demand  weakened,  particularly in Europe.  In response to this lower
demand, the Company reduced its production rates to more closely match its sales
volumes. Kronos' average selling prices during the first quarter of 1999 were 5%
higher  than the first  quarter  of 1998 and were even with the third and fourth
quarters of 1998.

Interest  expense in the first  quarter of 1999 was $6.6  million  less than the
first quarter of 1998 due to significantly lower levels of outstanding debt.

The  Company's  net debt at March 31, 1999 was $225 million  (total debt of $377
million less cash of $152 million).

Discontinued  operations  in  1998  represent  the  Company's  former  specialty
chemical operations which were sold in January 1998.

A conference  call for the investment  community is scheduled for April 26, 1999
at 10:00 a.m.,  EDT. Mr. J. Landis Martin will host the call.  Participants  can
access  the  call  by  dialing   1-888-810-3143   (domestic)  and   212-547-0478
(international). The passcode is NL Earnings. A taped replay of the call will be
available  one hour after the  conference  call  through  May 7, 1999 by calling
1-800-839-2204  (domestic) and  402-998-0550  (international),  and using access
code 56489.

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



<PAGE>



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,  possible  disruptions of normal  business  activities from
Year 2000 issues,  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.


<PAGE>



                             NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                Quarters ended
                                                                   March 31,  
                                                                ---------------  
                                                                 1998     1999
                                                                ------   ------
<S>                                                             <C>      <C>
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME:
  Net sales                                                     $222.6   $201.6
  Other income, excluding corporate                                1.4      3.7
                                                                ------   -------
                                                                 224.0    205.3

Cost of sales                                                    156.9    147.0
Selling, general and administrative, excluding corporate          27.7     27.3
                                                                ------   -------
    OPERATING INCOME                                              39.4     31.0

Corporate income (expense):
  Securities earnings                                              3.8      1.6
  Expenses, net                                                   (4.2)    (4.2)
  Interest expense                                               (16.4)    (9.8)
                                                                ------    ------ 

    Income from continuing operations before income                        
     taxes                                                        22.6     18.6

Income tax expense                                                 6.3      4.7
                                                                ------    ------

    INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS                             16.3     13.9

Discontinued operations                                          287.0       -
Extraordinary item - early extinguishment of debt                 (2.3)      -
                                                                ------    ------

    NET INCOME                                                  $301.0    $13.9
                                                                ======    ======

</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                             NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
            CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME, Continued

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                 Quarters ended
                                                                   March 31,   
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1998      1999
                                                                 -----     -----
<S>                                                              <C>       <C>
Basic earnings per share:
  Continuing operations                                          $ .32     $ .27
  Discontinued operations                                         5.60       -
  Extraordinary item                                              (.05)      -
                                                                 -----     -----

    Net income                                                   $5.87     $ .27
                                                                 =====     =====



Diluted earnings per share:
  Continuing operations                                          $ .31     $ .27
  Discontinued operations                                         5.54       -
  Extraordinary item                                              (.05)      -
                                                                 -----     -----

    Net income                                                   $5.80     $ .27
                                                                 =====     =====



SHARES USED IN THE CALCULATION OF EARNINGS PER SHARE:
  Basic shares                                                   51.3      51.8
  Dilutive impact of stock options                                 .6        .1
                                                                 -----     -----
  Diluted shares                                                 51.9      51.9
                                                                 =====     =====
</TABLE>