Dennis G. Newkirk
                                                                  (281) 423-3332







FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                        NL REPORTS FIRST QUARTER RESULTS

HOUSTON, TEXAS -- April 22, 1997 -- NL Industries, Inc. (NYSE:NL) reported a net
loss for the first quarter of 1997 of $35.7 million, or $.70 per share, on sales
of $239  million  compared to net income for the first  quarter of 1996 of $13.4
million,  or $.26 per share.  The 1997  results  include a $30  million  noncash
charge, or $.59 per share,  related to NL's adoption of the AICPA's Statement of
Position No. 96-1, "Environmental Remediation Liabilities."

Operating  income of Kronos' TiO2 business in the first quarter of 1997 was $8.7
million,  a $20.8 million decrease compared to 1996 as lower selling prices were
partially  offset by higher  production and sales volumes.  Average TiO2 selling
prices for the first  quarter  of 1997 were 16% lower than the first  quarter of
1996  and 2%  lower  than the  fourth  quarter  of  1996.  Kronos  continued  to
experience   strong  TiO2  demand  in  the  first  quarter,   reporting   record
first-quarter sales volumes that were 22% higher than the first quarter of 1996.

Rheox's  operating  income for the first  quarter of 1997 rose slightly from the
first quarter of 1996,  excluding a first-quarter 1996 $2.7 million gain related
to the reduction of certain U.S. employee pension benefits.

Corporate  expense,  net  increased in the first  quarter of 1997 due to the $30
million  noncash  charge related to the Statement of Position  mentioned  above.
Upon  adoption,  the  Company  changed  its method of  estimating  environmental
remediation  liabilities  to  include  certain  additional  estimated  costs  of
managing and monitoring existing  environmental  remediation sites.  Previously,
these costs were expensed as incurred.

In January 1997 the Company  restructured its Deutsche  mark-denominated  credit
facility by  prepaying  $127 million of the term loan portion and $26 million of
the revolving credit portion.  Proceeds from a new U.S. long-term financing were
used for the prepayment.  As a result of the prepayment and new U.S.  financing,
the Company's  aggregate  scheduled debt payments for 1997 and 1998 decreased by
$103 million.

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

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 and political conditions, global TiO2
productive  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.



<PAGE>


                               NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

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


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                          Quarter ended
                                                             March 31,
                                                         1996          1997

<S>                                                        <C>          <C>
Net sales
  Kronos .............................................     $ 206.3      $ 204.4
  Rheox ..............................................        34.1         35.1
                                                           -------      -------

                                                           $ 240.4      $ 239.5

Operating income
  Kronos .............................................     $  29.5      $   8.7
  Rheox ..............................................        12.4         10.1
                                                           -------      -------

    Operating income .................................        41.9         18.8

General corporate expense:
  Expenses, net ......................................        (3.7)       (33.3)
  Interest expense ...................................       (19.1)       (18.9)
                                                           -------      -------

    Income (loss) before income taxes ................        19.1        (33.4)

Income tax expense ...................................        (5.7)        (2.3)
                                                           -------      -------

    Net income (loss) ................................     $  13.4      $ (35.7)
                                                           =======      =======

Per share of common stock ............................     $   .26      $  (.70)
                                                           =======      =======

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