NL Industries, Inc.                 Contact:   Gregory M. Swalwell
Three Lincoln Centre                           Vice President, Finance and Chief
5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700                   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 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

DALLAS,  TEXAS...August 3, 2005...NL  Industries,  Inc. (NYSE:NL) today reported
income from continuing  operations of $10.0 million,  or $.20 per diluted share,
in the second quarter of 2005 compared to $189.7  million,  or $3.92 per diluted
share,  in the  second  quarter of 2004.  For the first six months of 2005,  the
Company reported income from continuing operations of $23.4 million, or $.46 per
diluted share,  compared to income from continuing operations of $194.8 million,
or $4.03 per  diluted  share,  in the first six  months of 2004.  The  Company's
results in 2004 include certain  significant  income tax benefits,  as described
below.

Component  products  segment  profit  for the  second  quarter  of 2005 was $4.7
million  compared  to $5.1  million  in the second  quarter  of 2004.  Component
product  sales and  segment  profit  were  lower in the  second  quarter of 2005
compared to the second  quarter of 2004 primarily due to the net effect of lower
sales volumes  partially  offset by higher selling prices for certain  products.
For the first six months of 2005,  component  products  segment  profit was $8.9
million  compared  to $7.6  million a year  ago.  Component  products  sales and
segment  profit  were  higher in the first six months of 2005 as compared to the
same period in 2004 as the effect of higher selling prices for certain  products
more than offset the impact of lower sales volume for certain 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 $311.7  million in the  second  quarter of 2005 were $15.9
million,  or 5%,  higher  than the second  quarter of 2004.  Net sales of $603.5
million for the first six months of 2005 were $44.4 million,  or 8%, higher than
the first six  months of 2004.  Both  increases  are due to the net  effects  of
higher average TiO2 selling prices, lower sales volumes and the favorable effect
of fluctuations  in foreign  currency  exchange rates,  which increased sales by
approximately $10 million and $21 million, respectively.

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)
during the second  quarter  and first six months of 2005 were 11% and 10% higher
than the respective  periods 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 second  quarter of 2005 were 15% higher
than the second  quarter of 2004 and 14% higher for the first six months of 2005
compared with 2004.  Reflecting the continued  implementation  of price increase
announcements,  Kronos'  average  selling  prices in billing  currencies  in the
second quarter of 2005 were 2% higher compared to the first quarter of 2005.

Kronos'  second  quarter 2005 TiO2 sales  volumes  decreased 10% from the second
quarter of 2004, as sales volumes were lower in all markets.  Kronos' TiO2 sales
volumes for the first six months of 2005  decreased 7% from the first six months
of 2004.  Kronos' TiO2  production  volumes were 4% higher in each of the second
quarter and first six months of 2005 as  compared  to the same  periods in 2004,
with operating  rates at near full capacity in all periods.  Kronos'  production
volume in the first six months of 2005 was a new record.

Kronos' segment profit for the second quarter of 2005 was $59.2 million compared
with $40.1 million in the second quarter of 2004, and was $107.2 million for the
first six months of 2005 compared with $66.3 million for the first six months of
2004.  Kronos'  segment profit improved due to the net effects of higher average
TiO2  selling  prices,  higher  production  volumes  and  lower  sales  volumes.
Furthermore,  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates favorably impacted
Kronos' segment profit  comparisons by  approximately  $2 million and $3 million
for the quarter and year-to-date periods, respectively.

Kronos'  segment  profit in the second  quarter of 2004 includes $6.3 million of
income  ($2.1  million,  or $.04 per  diluted  share,  net of  income  taxes and
minority  interest) related to settlement of a contract dispute with a customer.
Kronos'  results in the second quarter of 2005 include a $5.4 million gain ($1.3
million, or $.03 per diluted share, net of income taxes and minority interest to
the Company) related to the sale of its passive interest in a Norwegian smelting
operation.

Securities transactions gains in the first six months of 2005 relate principally
to a $14.7 million gain ($8.0 million,  or $.17 per diluted share, net of income
taxes)  related to the Company's sale of shares of Kronos common stock in market
transactions.  Insurance  recoveries  in  the  second  quarter  of  2005  relate
primarily to the  Company's  expected  recovery  from certain  insolvent  former
insurance  carriers relating to settlement of excess insurance  coverage claims.
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 International Inc. has a nominal amount of outstanding debt at
June 30, 2005.

As previously  reported,  the Company's income tax benefit in the second quarter
of 2004 includes (i) a $268.6 million tax benefit ($135.7 million,  or $2.80 per
diluted share, net of minority  interest)  related to the reversal of a deferred
income  tax  asset  valuation  allowance  attributable  to  Kronos'  income  tax
attributes in Germany  (principally net operating loss carryforwards) and (ii) a
$43.7 million  income tax benefit ($.90 per diluted share) related to income tax
attributes of a subsidiary of the Company.

As previously  reported,  in January 2005 CompX completed the sale of its Thomas
Regout operations in The Netherlands,  and accordingly the results of operations
of Thomas  Regout (which  reported a nominal  amount of net income in the second
quarter and first six months of 2004) are classified as discontinued  operations
for all periods presented.  Discontinued  operations in 2005 relate primarily to
additional   expenses   associated  with  the  disposal  of  the  Thomas  Regout
operations.

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 GAAP, the Company has disclosed certain
     non-GAAP  information 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          Six months ended
                                                                       June 30,                   June 30,
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                   2004        2005          2004         2005
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                             <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>
Net sales:
   Chemicals                                                    $   295.8   $       -    $    559.1    $      -
   Component products                                                46.2        45.8          89.8         92.6
                                                                ----------  -----------  ---------     ---------

                                                                $   342.0   $    45.8    $    648.9    $    92.6
                                                                =========   ==========   ==========    =========

Segment profit:
   Chemicals                                                    $    40.1   $       -    $     66.3    $      -
   Component products                                                 5.1         4.7           7.6          8.9
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------

     Total segment profit                                            45.2         4.7          73.9          8.9

General corporate items:
   Interest and dividend income from affiliates                        .8          .6           1.7          1.2
   Other interest income                                               .4          .8            .7          1.7
   Securities transactions gains, net                                 -            .1           -           14.7
   Insurance recoveries                                                .5         1.2            .5          1.2
   Other income                                                        .1          .1            .1           .2
   General corporate expenses, net                                   (4.6)       (4.3)        (11.3)       (10.1)
   Interest expense                                                  (8.8         (.1)        (18.2)         (.2)
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------

                                                                     33.6         3.1          47.4         17.6
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.                           -         11.8             -         19.6
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------

     Income from continuing operations before
      income taxes and minority interest                             33.6        14.9          47.4         37.2

Income tax expense (benefit)                                       (298.6)        4.1        (295.2)        12.3
Minority interest in after-tax earnings                             142.5          .8         147.8          1.5
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------

     Income from continuing operations                              189.7        10.0         194.8         23.4

Discontinued operations                                                .2          -             .2          (.3)
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------

     Net income                                                 $   189.9   $    10.0    $    195.0    $    23.1
                                                                =========   =========    ==========    =========

 Earnings per share:
    Basic net income per share                                  $    3.93   $     .20    $     4.04    $     .46
                                                                =========   =========    ==========    =========
   Diluted net income per share                                 $    3.92   $     .20    $     4.03    $     .46
                                                                =========   =========    ==========    =========

Weighted-average shares used in the
  calculation of earnings per share:
   Basic shares                                                      48.4        48.6          48.3         48.5
   Dilutive impact of stock options                                     -           -            .1           .1
                                                                ---------   ---------    ----------    ---------
   Diluted shares                                                    48.4        48.6          48.4         48.6
                                                                =========   =========    ==========    =========
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  Three months ended            Six months ended
                                                                       June 30,                     June 30,
                                                                     2005 vs. 2004               2005 vs. 2004
                                                                   ----------------            ----------------

<S>                                                                     <C>                         <C>
Percentage change in average selling prices:
    Using actual foreign currency exchange rates                            +15%                        +14%
    Impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates                     -4%                         -4%
                                                                        --------                    --------
    In billing currencies                                                   +11%                        +10%
                                                                        ========                    ========
</TABLE>