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Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Mar. 31, 2020	May 01, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Trading Symbol	NL
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Registrant Name	NL INDUSTRIES INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000072162
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		48,755,734
Entity File Number	1-640
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	NJ
Entity Tax Identification Number	13-5267260
Entity Address, Address Line One	5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
Entity Address, City or Town	Dallas
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	75240-2620
City Area Code	(972)
Local Phone Number	233-1700
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 133,406	$ 129,730
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	2,697	2,695
Accounts and other receivables, net	15,294	11,929
Inventories, net	18,962	18,348
Receivables from affiliates	438	581
Prepaid expenses and other	1,272	1,401
Total current assets	172,069	164,684
Other assets:
Restricted cash and cash equivalents	25,475	25,445
Note receivable from affiliate	25,500	28,100
Marketable securities	14,804	26,877
Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	238,067	248,355
Goodwill	27,156	27,156
Other assets, net	5,672	5,860
Total other assets	336,674	361,793
Property and equipment:
Land	4,940	4,940
Buildings	23,047	23,047
Equipment	68,443	67,718
Construction in progress	463	1,002
Property and equipment, gross	96,893	96,707
Less accumulated depreciation	66,531	65,692
Net property and equipment	30,362	31,015
Total assets	539,105	557,492
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	3,300	3,438
Accrued litigation settlement	11,887	11,830
Accrued and other current liabilities	7,483	10,601
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	3,357	3,065
Payables to affiliates	757	801
Income taxes	84	73
Total current liabilities	26,868	29,808
Noncurrent liabilities:
Long-term debt from affiliate	500	500
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	90,882	91,443
Long-term litigation settlement	60,367	60,081
Deferred income taxes	28,196	33,957
Accrued pension costs	7,894	8,230
Other	6,193	6,260
Total noncurrent liabilities	194,032	200,471
NL stockholders' equity:
Common stock	6,094	6,094
Additional paid-in capital	298,865	299,102
Retained earnings	250,960	251,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(260,845)	(251,690)
Total NL stockholders' equity	295,074	304,506
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	23,131	22,707
Total equity	318,205	327,213
Total liabilities and equity	539,105	557,492
Commitments and contingencies (Note 14)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 32,311	$ 31,176
Cost of sales	21,880	21,552
Gross margin	10,431	9,624
Selling, general and administrative expense	5,411	5,334
Other operating income (expense):
Insurance recoveries	22	283
Corporate expense	(2,508)	(2,055)
Income from operations	2,534	2,518
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	8,207	9,225
Other income (expense):
Interest and dividend income	1,131	1,519
Marketable equity securities	(12,073)	5,462
Other components of net periodic pension and OPEB cost	(208)	(428)
Interest expense	(352)	(9)
Income (loss) before income taxes	(761)	18,287
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,263)	2,561
Net income	2,502	15,726
Noncontrolling interest in net income of subsidiary	592	522
Net income attributable to NL stockholders	$ 1,910	$ 15,204
Amounts attributable to NL stockholders:
Basic and diluted net income per share	$ 0.04	$ 0.31
Weighted average shares used in the calculation of net income per share	48,756	48,727

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Net income	$ 2,502	$ 15,726
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Currency translation	(10,118)	(25)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net	(9,155)	733
Comprehensive income (loss)	(6,653)	16,459
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	592	522
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to NL stockholders	(7,245)	15,937
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Defined benefit plans	1,043	828
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Defined benefit plans	$ (80)	$ (70)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common stock	Additional paid-in capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 303,558	$ 6,090	$ 301,139	$ 225,156	$ (248,270)	$ 19,443
Net income	15,726			15,204		522
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	733				733
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(117)					(117)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2019	319,900	6,090	301,139	240,360	(247,537)	19,848
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	327,213	6,094	299,102	251,000	(251,690)	22,707
Net income	2,502			1,910		592
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(9,155)				(9,155)
Dividends paid	(1,950)			(1,950)
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest	(168)					(168)
Other, net	(237)		(237)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 318,205	$ 6,094	$ 298,865	$ 250,960	$ (260,845)	$ 23,131

- Definition

The consolidated profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, including the portion attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

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+ Details

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (Parenthetical)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 $ / shares
Statement Of Stockholders Equity [Abstract]
Dividends paid per share	$ 0.04

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,502	$ 15,726
Depreciation and amortization	950	901
Deferred income taxes	(3,278)	2,552
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	(8,207)	(9,225)
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	6,339	6,339
Marketable equity securities	12,073	(5,462)
Cash funding of benefit plans in excess of net benefit plan expense	244	9
Other, net	225	39
Change in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables, net	(3,364)	(3,244)
Inventories, net	(673)	(1,475)
Prepaid expenses and other	129	181
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(3,196)	(3,949)
Income taxes	15	9
Accounts with affiliates	99	559
Accrued environmental remediation and related costs	(269)	(1,194)
Other noncurrent assets and liabilities, net	(3)	(16)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,586	1,750
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(360)	(439)
Note receivable from affiliate:
Collections	18,228	11,400
Loans	(15,628)	(17,400)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	2,240	(6,439)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid	(1,950)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in subsidiary	(168)	(117)
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,118)	(117)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - net change from:
Operating, investing and financing activities	3,708	(4,806)
Balance at beginning of period	157,870	120,989
Balance at end of period	161,578	116,183
Supplemental disclosures - cash paid (received) for:
Interest	8	9
Income taxes, net	$ (9)	$ (16)

Organization and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and basis of presentation

Note 1 – Organization and basis of presentation:

Organization – At March 31, 2020, Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) held approximately 83% of our outstanding common stock and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran Corporation held approximately 92% of Valhi’s outstanding common stock. At March 31, 2020, a majority of Contran’s outstanding voting stock was held directly by Lisa K. Simmons and Serena Simmons Connelly and various family trusts established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly and their children and for which Ms. Simmons or Ms. Connelly, as applicable, served as trustee (collectively, the “Other Trusts”). In addition, each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly served as co-chair of the Contran board of directors. The remainder of Contran’s outstanding voting stock was held by another trust (the “Family Trust”), which was established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly and their children and for which a third-party financial institution serves as trustee. Consequently, at March 31, 2020, Ms. Simmons, Ms. Connelly and the Family Trust may be deemed to control Contran, and therefore may be deemed to indirectly control the wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran, Valhi and us.

Following the death of Ms. Connelly on April 22, 2020, Ms. Simmons and the Family Trust continue to directly hold their shares of Contran voting stock. Under the terms of the Contran Corporation Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated September 9, 2019 (the “Contran Stockholders Agreement”), and with respect to the shares of Contran voting stock held directly by Ms. Connelly at the time of her death (the “Connelly Direct Shares”), the independent executor of the estate of Ms. Connelly (prior to the completion of the probate of such estate) and the legatee of the Connelly Direct Shares (following completion of the probate of such estate) is required to vote the Connelly Direct Shares in the same manner as Ms. Simmons. Also under the terms of the Contran Stockholders Agreement, and with respect to the shares of Contran voting stock held by the Other Trusts for which Ms. Connelly previously served as trustee and for which her successor trustee is someone other than Ms. Simmons (the “Connelly Indirect Shares”), such successor trustee is also required to vote the Connelly Indirect Shares in the same manner as Ms. Simmons. Such voting rights of Ms. Simmons with respect to the Connelly Direct Shares and the Connelly Indirect Shares last through April 22, 2030 and are personal to Ms. Simmons. Consequently, at April 22, 2020, Ms. Simmons and the Family Trust may be deemed to control Contran, and therefore may be deemed to indirectly control the wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran, Valhi and us.

Basis of presentation – Consolidated in this Quarterly Report are the results of our majority-owned subsidiary, CompX International Inc. We also own 30% of Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (Kronos). CompX (NYSE American: CIX) and Kronos (NYSE: KRO) each file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report have been prepared on the same basis as the audited Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 that we filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020 (the 2019 Annual Report). In our opinion, we have made all necessary adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) in order to state fairly, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented. We have condensed the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019 contained in this Quarterly Report as compared to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date, and we have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures (including those related to the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019) normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Our results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2020 may not be indicative of our operating results for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our 2019 Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our 2019 Annual Report.

Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “NL,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to NL Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliate, Kronos, taken as a whole.

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Receivables [Abstract]

Accounts and other receivables, net

Note 2 – Accounts and other receivables, net:

	December 31,			March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Trade receivables - CompX	$	11,940		$	15,302
Other receivables		59			62
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(70	)		(70	)
Total	$	11,929		$	15,294

Inventories, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Inventories, net

Note 3 – Inventories, net:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Raw materials	$	2,941	$	3,104
Work in process		11,771		12,237
Finished products		3,636		3,621
Total	$	18,348	$	18,962

Marketable Securities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]

Marketable securities

Note 4 – Marketable securities:

Our marketable securities consist of investments in the publicly-traded shares of our immediate parent company Valhi, Inc. Our shares of Valhi common stock are accounted for as available-for-sale securities, which are carried at fair value using quoted market prices in active markets and represent a Level 1 input within the fair value hierarchy. Any unrealized gains or losses on the securities are recognized in Marketable equity securities on our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

	Fair value measurement level	Market value		Cost basis		Unrealized gain (loss)
		(In thousands)
December 31, 2019
Valhi common stock	1	$	26,877	$	24,347	$	2,530

March 31, 2020
Valhi common stock	1	$	14,804	$	24,347	$	(9,543	)

At December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, we held approximately 14.4 million shares of common stock of our immediate parent company, Valhi, Inc. At December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, the quoted per share market price of Valhi common stock was $1.87 and $1.03, respectively.

The Valhi common stock we own is subject to the restrictions on resale pursuant to certain provisions of the SEC Rule 144. In addition, as a majority-owned subsidiary of Valhi, we cannot vote our shares of Valhi common stock under Delaware General Corporation Law, but we do receive dividends from Valhi on these shares, when declared and paid.

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc.

Note 5 – Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc.:

At December 31, 2019 and March 31, 2020, we owned approximately 35.2 million shares of Kronos common stock. At March 31, 2020, the quoted market price of Kronos’ common stock was $8.44 per share, or an aggregate market value of $297.3 million. At December 31, 2019, the quoted market price was $13.40 per share, or an aggregate market value of $471.9 million.

The change in the carrying value of our investment in Kronos during the first three months of 2020 is summarized below.

	Amount
	(In millions)
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	248.4
Equity in earnings of Kronos		8.2
Dividends received from Kronos		(6.3	)
Equity in Kronos' other comprehensive income:
Currency translation		(12.8	)
Defined benefit pension plans		.9
Other		(.3	)
Balance at the end of the period	$	238.1

Selected financial information of Kronos is summarized below:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In millions)
Current assets	$	1,219.7	$	1,163.4
Property and equipment, net		490.6		459.0
Investment in TiO₂ joint venture		90.2		92.4
Other noncurrent assets		165.3		160.0
Total assets	$	1,965.8	$	1,874.8

Current liabilities	$	270.6	$	231.2
Long-term debt		444.0		436.3
Accrued pension costs		307.4		301.4
Other noncurrent liabilities		127.7		123.6
Stockholders' equity		816.1		782.3
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,965.8	$	1,874.8


	Three months ended March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In millions)
Net sales	$	436.5	$	421.0
Cost of sales		327.2		332.9
Income from operations		49.0		43.5
Income tax expense		12.8		8.4
Net income		30.3		27.0

Other Noncurrent Assets, Net

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Other noncurrent assets, net

Note 6 – Other noncurrent assets, net:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Pension asset	$	4,294	$	4,106
Other		1,566		1,566
Total	$	5,860	$	5,672

Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Accrued and other current liabilities

Note 7 – Accrued and other current liabilities:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Employee benefits	$	8,917	$	5,138
Other		1,684		2,345
Total	$	10,601	$	7,483

Long-Term Debt

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term debt

Note 8 – Long-term debt:

During the first three months of 2020, our wholly owned subsidiary, NLKW Holding, LLC had no borrowings or repayments under its $50 million secured revolving credit facility with Valhi. At March 31, 2020, $.5 million was outstanding and $49.5 million was available for future borrowing under this facility. Outstanding borrowings bear interest at the prime rate plus 1.875% per annum, and the average interest rate for the three months ended March 31, 2020 was 6.31%. The interest rate was 5.13% at March 31, 2020. We are in compliance with all covenants at March 31, 2020.

Other Noncurrent Liabilities

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

Other noncurrent liabilities

Note 9 – Other noncurrent liabilities:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions	$	4,053	$	4,053
OPEB		1,129		1,068
Insurance claims and expenses		665		686
Other		413		386
Total	$	6,260	$	6,193

Revenue Recognition

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]

Revenue Recognition

Note 10 – Revenue recognition:

The following table disaggregates our net sales by reporting unit, which are the categories that depict how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Net sales:
Security Products	$	24,704	$	25,469
Marine Components		6,472		6,842
Total	$	31,176	$	32,311

Employee Benefit Plans

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]

Employee benefit plans

Note 11 – Employee benefit plans:

The components of net periodic defined benefit pension cost are presented in the table below.

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	474		$	355
Expected return on plan assets		(477	)		(461	)
Recognized actuarial losses		406			380
Total	$	403		$	274

We currently expect our 2020 contributions to our defined benefit pension plans to be approximately $2.0 million.

Income Taxes

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Income taxes

Note 12 – Income taxes:

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In millions)
Expected tax expense (benefit), at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21%	$	3.8		$	(.2	)
Rate differences on equity in earnings of Kronos		(1.4	)		(3.2	)
U.S. state income taxes and other, net		.2			.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	2.6		$	(3.3	)

Comprehensive provision (benefit) for income taxes allocable to:
Net income (loss)	$	2.6		$	(3.3	)
Additional paid-in capital		-			(.1	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation		-			(2.7	)
Pension plans		.2			.3
Total	$	2.8		$	(5.8	)

In accordance with GAAP, we recognize deferred income taxes on our undistributed equity in earnings (losses) of Kronos. Because we and Kronos are part of the same U.S. federal income tax group, any dividends we receive from Kronos are nontaxable to us. Accordingly, we do not recognize and we are not required to pay income taxes on dividends from Kronos. We received aggregate dividends from Kronos of $6.3 million in the first three months of 2019 and 2020. The amounts shown in the above table of our income tax rate reconciliation for rate differences on equity in earnings of Kronos are primarily attributable to the net effects of Kronos’ earnings and the income tax benefit related to the nontaxable dividends we receive from Kronos, as it relates to the amount of deferred income taxes we recognize on our undistributed equity in earnings (losses) of Kronos. Our equity in earnings of Kronos in 2020 is expected to be lower than our equity in earnings of Kronos in 2019.

On March 27, 2020, the “Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act” was signed into law in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act, among other things, includes provisions relating to refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, modifications to net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks, modifications to the limitation of business interest for 2019 and 2020 and technical corrections to tax depreciation methods for qualified improvement property. We have evaluated the relevant provisions of the CARES Act and do not expect the NOL carryback provisions to result in a cash tax benefit to us because we do not have any prior year refundable income taxes and other provisions of the CARES Act will not have a material impact on our tax provision.

Income tax matters related to Kronos

Under the CARES Act, the modification to the business interest provisions increases the business interest limitation from 30% of adjusted taxable income to 50% of adjusted taxable income which increases Kronos’ allowable interest expense deduction for 2019 and 2020. Consequently, in the first quarter of 2020 Kronos recognized a cash tax benefit of $.5 million related to the reversal of the valuation allowance recognized in 2019 for the portion of the disallowed interest expense Kronos did not expect to fully utilize at December 31, 2019. Pursuant to the business interest modification provisions, Kronos does not expect its deductible interest expense in 2020 to be limited and, accordingly, Kronos has considered such modifications in its estimate of the effective tax rate. Kronos has determined other provisions of the CARES Act will not have a material impact on its provision for income taxes in 2020.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Note 13 – Accumulated other comprehensive loss:

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to NL stockholders, including amounts resulting from our investment in Kronos Worldwide (see Note 5), are presented in the table below.

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Currency translation:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(172,434	)	$	(172,843	)
Other comprehensive loss		(25	)		(10,118	)
Balance at end of period	$	(172,459	)	$	(182,961	)

Defined benefit pension plans:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(75,286	)	$	(78,257	)
Other comprehensive income - amortization of net losses included in net periodic pension cost		828			1,043
Balance at end of period	$	(74,458	)	$	(77,214	)

OPEB plans:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(550	)	$	(590	)
Other comprehensive loss - amortization of net gains included in net periodic OPEB cost		(70	)		(80	)
Balance at end of period	$	(620	)	$	(670	)

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(248,270	)	$	(251,690	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		733			(9,155	)
Balance at end of period	$	(247,537	)	$	(260,845	)

See Note 11 for amounts related to our defined benefit pension plans.

Commitments and Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and contingencies

Note 14 – Commitments and contingencies:

General

We are involved in various environmental, contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to our current and former businesses. At least quarterly our management discusses and evaluates the status of any pending litigation or claim to which we are a party or which has been asserted against us. The factors considered in such evaluation include, among other things, the nature of such pending cases and claims, the status of such pending cases and claims, the advice of legal counsel and our experience in similar cases and claims (if any). Based on such evaluation, we make a determination as to whether we believe (i) it is probable a loss has been incurred, and if so if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (ii) it is reasonably possible but not probable a loss has been incurred, and if so, if the amount of such loss (or a range of loss) is reasonably estimable, or (iii) the probability a loss has been incurred is remote.

Lead pigment litigation

Our former operations included the manufacture of lead pigments for use in paint and lead-based paint. We, other former manufacturers of lead pigments for use in paint and lead-based paint (together, the “former pigment manufacturers”), and the Lead Industries Association (LIA), which discontinued business operations in 2002, have been named as defendants in various legal proceedings seeking damages for personal injury, property damage and governmental expenditures allegedly caused by the use of lead-based paints. Certain of these actions have been filed by or on behalf of states, counties, cities or their public housing authorities and school districts, and certain others have been asserted as class actions. These lawsuits seek recovery under a variety of theories, including public and private nuisance, negligent product design, negligent failure to warn, strict liability, breach of warranty, conspiracy/concert of action, aiding and abetting, enterprise liability, market share or risk contribution liability, intentional tort, fraud and misrepresentation, violations of state consumer protection statutes, supplier negligence and similar claims.

The plaintiffs in these actions generally seek to impose on the defendants responsibility for lead paint abatement and health concerns associated with the use of lead-based paints, including damages for personal injury, contribution and/or indemnification for medical expenses, medical monitoring expenses and costs for educational programs. To the extent the plaintiffs seek compensatory or punitive damages in these actions, such damages are generally unspecified. In some cases, the damages are unspecified pursuant to the requirements of applicable state law. A number of cases are inactive or have been dismissed or withdrawn. Most of the remaining cases are in various pre-trial stages. Some are on appeal following dismissal or summary judgment rulings or a trial verdict in favor of either the defendants or the plaintiffs.

We believe that these actions are without merit, and we intend to continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing and liability and to defend against all actions vigorously. Other than with respect to the Santa Clara, California public nuisance case discussed below, we do not believe it is probable that we have incurred any liability with respect to all of the lead pigment litigation cases to which we are a party, and with respect to all such lead pigment litigation cases to which we are a party we believe liability to us that may result, if any, in this regard cannot be reasonably estimated, because:

•

we have never settled any of the market share, intentional tort, fraud, nuisance, supplier negligence, breach of warranty, conspiracy, misrepresentation, aiding and abetting, enterprise liability, or statutory cases (other than the Santa Clara case discussed below),

•

no final, non-appealable adverse judgments have ever been entered against us, and

•

we have never ultimately been found liable with respect to any such litigation matters, including over 100 cases over a thirty-year period for which we were previously a party and for which we have been dismissed without any finding of liability.

Accordingly, other than with respect to the Santa Clara case discussed below, we have not accrued any amounts for any of the pending lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation cases filed by or on behalf of states, counties, cities or their public housing authorities and school districts, or those asserted as class actions. In addition, we have determined that liability to us which may result, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated at this time because there is no prior history of a loss of this nature on which an estimate could be made and there is no substantive information available upon which an estimate could be based.

In the matter titled County of Santa Clara v. Atlantic Richfield Company, et al. (Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara, Case No. 1-00-CV-788657) on July 24, 2019, an order approving a global settlement agreement entered into among all of the plaintiffs and the three defendants remaining in the case (the Sherwin Williams Company, ConAgra Grocery Products and us) was entered by the court and the case was dismissed with prejudice. The global settlement agreement provides that an aggregate $305 million will be paid collectively by the three co-defendants in full satisfaction of all claims resulting in a dismissal of the case with prejudice and the resolution of (i) all pending and future claims by the plaintiffs in the case, and (ii) all potential claims for contribution or indemnity between us and our co-defendants in respect to the case. In the agreement, we expressly deny any and all liability and the dismissal of the case with prejudice was entered by the court without a final judgment of liability entered against us. The settlement agreement fully concludes this matter.

Under the terms of the global settlement agreement, each defendant must pay an aggregate $101.7 million to the plaintiffs as follows: $25.0 million within sixty days of the court’s approval of the settlement and dismissal of the case, and the remaining $76.7 million in six annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the initial payment ($12.0 million for the first five installments and $16.7 million for the sixth installment). Our sixth installment will be made with funds already on deposit at the court that are committed to the settlement, including all accrued interest at the date of payment, with any remaining balance to be paid by us (and any amounts on deposit in excess of the final payment would be returned to us). For financial reporting purposes we used a discount rate of 1.9% per annum to discount the settlement to the estimated net present value. We recognized additional litigation settlement expense during 2019 of $19.3 million (primarily in the second quarter).

New cases may continue to be filed against us. We do not know if we will incur liability in the future with respect to any of the pending or possible litigation in view of the inherent uncertainties involved in court and jury rulings. In the future, if new information regarding such matters becomes available to us (such as a final, non-appealable adverse verdict against us or otherwise ultimately being found liable with respect to such matters), at that time we would consider such information in evaluating any remaining cases then-pending against us as to whether it might then have become probable we have incurred liability with respect to these matters, and whether such liability, if any, could have become reasonably estimable. The resolution of any of these cases could result in the recognition of a loss contingency accrual that could have a material adverse impact on our net income for the interim or annual period during which such liability is recognized and a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial condition and liquidity.

Environmental matters and litigation

Our operations are governed by various environmental laws and regulations. Certain of our businesses are and have been engaged in the handling, manufacture or use of substances or compounds that may be considered toxic or hazardous within the meaning of applicable environmental laws and regulations. As with other companies engaged in similar businesses, certain of our past and current operations and products have the potential to cause environmental or other damage. We have implemented and continue to implement various policies and programs in an effort to minimize these risks. Our policy is to maintain compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at all of our plants and to strive to improve environmental performance. From time to time, we may be subject to environmental regulatory enforcement under U.S. and non-U.S. statutes, the resolution of which typically involves the establishment of compliance programs. It is possible that future developments, such as stricter requirements of environmental laws and enforcement policies, could adversely affect our production, handling, use, storage, transportation, sale or disposal of such substances. We believe that all of our facilities are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws.

Certain properties and facilities used in our former operations, including divested primary and secondary lead smelters and former mining locations, are the subject of civil litigation, administrative proceedings or investigations arising under federal and state environmental laws and common law. Additionally, in connection with past operating practices, we are currently involved as a defendant, potentially responsible party (PRP) or both, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (CERCLA), and similar state laws in various governmental and private actions associated with waste disposal sites, mining locations, and facilities that we or our predecessors, our subsidiaries or their predecessors currently or previously owned, operated or used, certain of which are on the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund National Priorities List or similar state lists. These proceedings seek cleanup costs, damages for personal injury or property damage and/or damages for injury to natural resources. Certain of these proceedings involve claims for substantial amounts. Although we may be jointly and severally liable for these costs, in most cases we are only one of a number of PRPs who may also be jointly and severally liable, and among whom costs may be shared or allocated. In addition, we are occasionally named as a party in a number of personal injury lawsuits filed in various jurisdictions alleging claims related to environmental conditions alleged to have resulted from our operations.

Obligations associated with environmental remediation and related matters are difficult to assess and estimate for numerous reasons including the:

•

complexity and differing interpretations of governmental regulations,

•

number of PRPs and their ability or willingness to fund such allocation of costs,

•

financial capabilities of the PRPs and the allocation of costs among them,

•

solvency of other PRPs,

•

multiplicity of possible solutions,

•

number of years of investigatory, remedial and monitoring activity required,

•

uncertainty over the extent, if any, to which our former operations might have contributed to the conditions allegedly giving rise to such personal injury, property damage, natural resource and related claims, and

•

number of years between former operations and notice of claims and lack of information and documents about the former operations.

In addition, the imposition of more stringent standards or requirements under environmental laws or regulations, new developments or changes regarding site cleanup costs or the allocation of costs among PRPs, solvency of other PRPs, the results of future testing and analysis undertaken with respect to certain sites or a determination that we are potentially responsible for the release of hazardous substances at other sites, could cause our expenditures to exceed our current estimates. It is possible that actual costs will exceed accrued amounts or the upper end of the range for sites for which estimates have been made, and it is possible costs will be incurred for sites where no estimates presently can be made. Further, additional environmental and related matters may arise in the future. If we were to incur any future liability, this could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial statements, results of operations and liquidity.

We record liabilities related to environmental remediation and related matters (including costs associated with damages for personal injury or property damage and/or damages for injury to natural resources) when estimated future expenditures are probable and reasonably estimable. We adjust such accruals as further information becomes available to us or as circumstances change. Unless the amounts and timing of such estimated future expenditures are fixed and reasonably determinable, we generally do not discount estimated future expenditures to their present value due to the uncertainty of the timing of the payout. We recognize recoveries of costs from other parties, if any, as assets when their receipt is deemed probable.

We do not know and cannot estimate the exact time frame over which we will make payments for our accrued environmental and related costs. The timing of payments depends upon a number of factors, including but not limited to the timing of the actual remediation process; which in turn depends on factors outside of our control. At each balance sheet date, we estimate the amount of our accrued environmental and related costs which we expect to pay within the next twelve months, and we classify this estimate as a current liability. We classify the remaining accrued environmental costs as a noncurrent liability.

Changes in the accrued environmental remediation and related costs during the first three months of 2020 are as follows:

	Amount
	(In thousands)
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	94,508
Additions charged to expense		20
Payments, net		(289	)
Balance at the end of the period	$	94,239

Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheet at the end of the period:
Current liability	$	3,357
Noncurrent liability		90,882
Balance at the end of the period	$	94,239

On a quarterly basis, we evaluate the potential range of our liability for environmental remediation and related costs at sites where we have been named as a PRP or defendant, including sites for which our wholly-owned environmental management subsidiary, NL Environmental Management Services, Inc. (EMS), has contractually assumed our obligations. At March 31, 2020, we had accrued approximately $94 million related to approximately 32 sites associated with remediation and related matters that we believe are at the present time and/or in their current phase reasonably estimable. The upper end of the range of reasonably possible costs to us for remediation and related matters for which we believe it is possible to estimate costs is approximately $115 million, including the amount currently accrued. These accruals have not been discounted to present value.

We believe that it is not reasonably possible to estimate the range of costs for certain sites. At March 31, 2020, there were approximately five sites for which we are not currently able to reasonably estimate a range of costs. For these sites, generally the investigation is in the early stages, and we are unable to determine whether or not we actually had any association with the site, the nature of our responsibility for the contamination at the site, if any, and the extent of contamination at and cost to remediate the site. The timing and availability of information on these sites is dependent on events outside of our control, such as when the party alleging liability provides information to us. At certain of these previously inactive sites, we have received general and special notices of liability from the EPA and/or state agencies alleging that we, sometimes with other PRPs, are liable for past and future costs of remediating environmental contamination allegedly caused by former operations. These notifications may assert that we, along with any other alleged PRPs, are liable for past and/or future clean-up costs. As further information becomes available to us for any of these sites, which would allow us to estimate a range of costs, we would at that time adjust our accruals. Any such adjustment could result in the recognition of an accrual that would have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements, results of operations and liquidity.

Insurance coverage claims

We are involved in certain legal proceedings with a number of our former insurance carriers regarding the nature and extent of the carriers’ obligations to us under insurance policies with respect to certain lead pigment and asbestos lawsuits. The issue of whether insurance coverage for defense costs or indemnity or both will be found to exist for our lead pigment and asbestos litigation depends upon a variety of factors and we cannot assure you that such insurance coverage will be available.

We have agreements with certain of our former insurance carriers pursuant to which the carriers reimburse us for a portion of our future lead pigment litigation defense costs, and one such carrier reimburses us for a portion of our future asbestos litigation defense costs. We are not able to determine how much we will ultimately recover from these carriers for defense costs incurred by us because of certain issues that arise regarding which defense costs qualify for reimbursement. While we continue to seek additional insurance recoveries, we do not know if we will be successful in obtaining reimbursement for either defense costs or indemnity. Accordingly, we recognize insurance recoveries in income only when receipt of the recovery is probable and we are able to reasonably estimate the amount of the recovery.

For a complete discussion of certain litigation involving us and certain of our former insurance carriers, refer to our 2019 Annual Report.

Other litigation

In addition to the litigation described above, we and our affiliates are also involved in various other environmental, contractual, product liability, patent (or intellectual property), employment and other claims and disputes incidental to present and former businesses. In certain cases, we have insurance coverage for these items, although we do not expect additional material insurance coverage for environmental matters. We currently believe the disposition of all of these various other claims and disputes (including asbestos related claims), individually and in the aggregate, should not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity beyond the accruals already provided.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Financial instruments and fair value measurements

Note 15 – Financial instruments and fair value measurements:

See Note 4 for information on how we determine fair value of our marketable securities.

The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure:

	December 31, 2019				March 31, 2020
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	amount		value		amount		value
	(In thousands)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	157,870	$	157,870	$	161,578	$	161,578
Noncontrolling interest in CompX common stock		22,707		24,627		23,131		25,657

The fair value of our noncontrolling interest in CompX stockholders’ equity is based upon its quoted market price at each balance sheet date, which represents a Level 1 input. Due to their near-term maturities, the carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered equivalent to fair value.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]

Recent accounting pronouncements

Note 16 – Recent accounting pronouncements:

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes, which changes the accounting for certain income tax transactions and reduces complexity in accounting for income taxes in certain areas. The ASU introduces new guidance including providing a policy election for an entity to not allocate consolidated current and deferred tax expense when a member of a consolidated tax return is not subject to income tax in its separate financial statements and is a disregarded entity by the taxing authority; and providing guidance to evaluate whether a step-up in tax basis of goodwill relates to a business combination in which book goodwill was recognized or a separate transaction. The ASU also changes existing guidance in a number of areas, including: the method of making an intraperiod allocation of total income tax expense if there is a loss in continuing operations and gains outside of continuing operations; determining when a deferred tax liability is recognized after an investor in a non-U.S. entity transitions to or from the equity method of accounting; accounting for tax law changes and year-to-date losses in interim periods; and determining how to apply the income tax guidance to franchise taxes that are partially based on income. We adopted this ASU as of January 1, 2020. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter of 2020 did not have a material effect on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Subsequent Event

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Subsequent Events [Abstract]

Subsequent event

Note 17 – Subsequent event:

Following the spread of the COVID-19 virus beyond China in late January 2020, various national, state and local governments began to implement a number of increasingly restrictive measures to contain the spread of the virus, including travel restrictions, gathering limitations, event cancellations, border closures and stay-at-home orders, resulting in sharp contractions of vast areas of the global economy beginning in March 2020. While measured efforts are underway to resume commercial activities in most global markets, the impacts of COVID-19, including the efforts to mitigate its spread, are expected to continue to challenge workers, businesses and governments for the foreseeable future. Although the COVID-19 pandemic had limited impact on our operations during the first quarter of 2020, we believe U.S. and worldwide gross domestic product will be significantly impacted for an indeterminate period, including the demand for our products and those of our customers. Consequently, we expect to report lower sales and earnings than would otherwise have been expected for the remainder of 2020. The extent of the impact will depend on numerous factors, including future developments, and therefore is uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Organization and Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2020
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Organization	Organization – At March 31, 2020, Valhi, Inc. (NYSE: VHI) held approximately 83% of our outstanding common stock and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran Corporation held approximately 92% of Valhi’s outstanding common stock. At March 31, 2020, a majority of Contran’s outstanding voting stock was held directly by Lisa K. Simmons and Serena Simmons Connelly and various family trusts established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly and their children and for which Ms. Simmons or Ms. Connelly, as applicable, served as trustee (collectively, the “Other Trusts”). In addition, each of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly served as co-chair of the Contran board of directors. The remainder of Contran’s outstanding voting stock was held by another trust (the “Family Trust”), which was established for the benefit of Ms. Simmons and Ms. Connelly and their children and for which a third-party financial institution serves as trustee. Consequently, at March 31, 2020, Ms. Simmons, Ms. Connelly and the Family Trust may be deemed to control Contran, and therefore may be deemed to indirectly control the wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran, Valhi and us. Following the death of Ms. Connelly on April 22, 2020, Ms. Simmons and the Family Trust continue to directly hold their shares of Contran voting stock. Under the terms of the Contran Corporation Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement dated September 9, 2019 (the “Contran Stockholders Agreement”), and with respect to the shares of Contran voting stock held directly by Ms. Connelly at the time of her death (the “Connelly Direct Shares”), the independent executor of the estate of Ms. Connelly (prior to the completion of the probate of such estate) and the legatee of the Connelly Direct Shares (following completion of the probate of such estate) is required to vote the Connelly Direct Shares in the same manner as Ms. Simmons. Also under the terms of the Contran Stockholders Agreement, and with respect to the shares of Contran voting stock held by the Other Trusts for which Ms. Connelly previously served as trustee and for which her successor trustee is someone other than Ms. Simmons (the “Connelly Indirect Shares”), such successor trustee is also required to vote the Connelly Indirect Shares in the same manner as Ms. Simmons. Such voting rights of Ms. Simmons with respect to the Connelly Direct Shares and the Connelly Indirect Shares last through April 22, 2030 and are personal to Ms. Simmons. Consequently, at April 22, 2020, Ms. Simmons and the Family Trust may be deemed to control Contran, and therefore may be deemed to indirectly control the wholly-owned subsidiary of Contran, Valhi and us.
Basis of presentation	Basis of presentation – Consolidated in this Quarterly Report are the results of our majority-owned subsidiary, CompX International Inc. We also own 30% of Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (Kronos). CompX (NYSE American: CIX) and Kronos (NYSE: KRO) each file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report have been prepared on the same basis as the audited Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 that we filed with the SEC on March 11, 2020 (the 2019 Annual Report). In our opinion, we have made all necessary adjustments (which include only normal recurring adjustments) in order to state fairly, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows as of the dates and for the periods presented. We have condensed the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019 contained in this Quarterly Report as compared to our audited Consolidated Financial Statements at that date, and we have omitted certain information and footnote disclosures (including those related to the Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2019) normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). Our results of operations for the interim period ended March 31, 2020 may not be indicative of our operating results for the full year. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained in this Quarterly Report should be read in conjunction with our 2019 Consolidated Financial Statements contained in our 2019 Annual Report. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this report to “NL,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to NL Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliate, Kronos, taken as a whole.

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Receivables [Abstract]

Schedule of Accounts Notes Loans and Financing Receivable

	December 31,			March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Trade receivables - CompX	$	11,940		$	15,302
Other receivables		59			62
Allowance for doubtful accounts		(70	)		(70	)
Total	$	11,929		$	15,294

Inventories, Net (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Inventories, Net

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Raw materials	$	2,941	$	3,104
Work in process		11,771		12,237
Finished products		3,636		3,621
Total	$	18,348	$	18,962

Marketable Securities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Investments Debt And Equity Securities [Abstract]

Schedule of Marketable Securities

	Fair value measurement level	Market value		Cost basis		Unrealized gain (loss)
		(In thousands)
December 31, 2019
Valhi common stock	1	$	26,877	$	24,347	$	2,530

March 31, 2020
Valhi common stock	1	$	14,804	$	24,347	$	(9,543	)

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Equity Method Investments And Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Changes in Carrying Value of Investment

The change in the carrying value of our investment in Kronos during the first three months of 2020 is summarized below.

	Amount
	(In millions)
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	248.4
Equity in earnings of Kronos		8.2
Dividends received from Kronos		(6.3	)
Equity in Kronos' other comprehensive income:
Currency translation		(12.8	)
Defined benefit pension plans		.9
Other		(.3	)
Balance at the end of the period	$	238.1

Selected Financial Information of Kronos Balance Sheet

Selected financial information of Kronos is summarized below:

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In millions)
Current assets	$	1,219.7	$	1,163.4
Property and equipment, net		490.6		459.0
Investment in TiO₂ joint venture		90.2		92.4
Other noncurrent assets		165.3		160.0
Total assets	$	1,965.8	$	1,874.8

Current liabilities	$	270.6	$	231.2
Long-term debt		444.0		436.3
Accrued pension costs		307.4		301.4
Other noncurrent liabilities		127.7		123.6
Stockholders' equity		816.1		782.3
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,965.8	$	1,874.8

Selected Financial Information of Kronos Income Statement


	Three months ended March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In millions)
Net sales	$	436.5	$	421.0
Cost of sales		327.2		332.9
Income from operations		49.0		43.5
Income tax expense		12.8		8.4
Net income		30.3		27.0

Other Noncurrent Assets, Net (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Other Noncurrent Assets

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Pension asset	$	4,294	$	4,106
Other		1,566		1,566
Total	$	5,860	$	5,672

Accrued and Other Current Liabilities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Payables And Accruals [Abstract]

Schedule of Accrued and Other Current Liabilities

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Employee benefits	$	8,917	$	5,138
Other		1,684		2,345
Total	$	10,601	$	7,483

Other Noncurrent Liabilities (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]

Summary of Other Noncurrent Liabilities

	December 31,		March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Reserve for uncertain tax positions	$	4,053	$	4,053
OPEB		1,129		1,068
Insurance claims and expenses		665		686
Other		413		386
Total	$	6,260	$	6,193

Revenue Recognition (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Revenue From Contract With Customer [Abstract]

Schedule of Disaggregates Net Sales By Reporting Unit

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019		2020
	(In thousands)
Net sales:
Security Products	$	24,704	$	25,469
Marine Components		6,472		6,842
Total	$	31,176	$	32,311

Employee Benefit Plans (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Components of Net Periodic Defined Benefit Cost (Income)

The components of net periodic defined benefit pension cost are presented in the table below.

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Interest cost	$	474		$	355
Expected return on plan assets		(477	)		(461	)
Recognized actuarial losses		406			380
Total	$	403		$	274

Income Taxes (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]

Component of Income Taxes

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In millions)
Expected tax expense (benefit), at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21%	$	3.8		$	(.2	)
Rate differences on equity in earnings of Kronos		(1.4	)		(3.2	)
U.S. state income taxes and other, net		.2			.1
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	2.6		$	(3.3	)

Comprehensive provision (benefit) for income taxes allocable to:
Net income (loss)	$	2.6		$	(3.3	)
Additional paid-in capital		-			(.1	)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation		-			(2.7	)
Pension plans		.2			.3
Total	$	2.8		$	(5.8	)

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Stockholders Equity Note [Abstract]

Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to NL stockholders, including amounts resulting from our investment in Kronos Worldwide (see Note 5), are presented in the table below.

	Three months ended
	March 31,
	2019			2020
	(In thousands)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Currency translation:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(172,434	)	$	(172,843	)
Other comprehensive loss		(25	)		(10,118	)
Balance at end of period	$	(172,459	)	$	(182,961	)

Defined benefit pension plans:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(75,286	)	$	(78,257	)
Other comprehensive income - amortization of net losses included in net periodic pension cost		828			1,043
Balance at end of period	$	(74,458	)	$	(77,214	)

OPEB plans:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(550	)	$	(590	)
Other comprehensive loss - amortization of net gains included in net periodic OPEB cost		(70	)		(80	)
Balance at end of period	$	(620	)	$	(670	)

Total accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Balance at beginning of period	$	(248,270	)	$	(251,690	)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		733			(9,155	)
Balance at end of period	$	(247,537	)	$	(260,845	)

Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Changes in Accrued Environmental Remediation and Related Costs

Changes in the accrued environmental remediation and related costs during the first three months of 2020 are as follows:

	Amount
	(In thousands)
Balance at the beginning of the period	$	94,508
Additions charged to expense		20
Payments, net		(289	)
Balance at the end of the period	$	94,239

Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheet at the end of the period:
Current liability	$	3,357
Noncurrent liability		90,882
Balance at the end of the period	$	94,239

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2020

Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]

Summary of Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value

The following table presents the financial instruments that are not carried at fair value but which require fair value disclosure:

	December 31, 2019				March 31, 2020
	Carrying		Fair		Carrying		Fair
	amount		value		amount		value
	(In thousands)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	157,870	$	157,870	$	161,578	$	161,578
Noncontrolling interest in CompX common stock		22,707		24,627		23,131		25,657

Organization and Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail)	Mar. 31, 2020
Kronos
Organization And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Parent company ownership interest	30.00%
Parent Company \| Valhi Inc
Organization And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Parent company ownership interest	83.00%
Parent Company \| Contran Corporation
Organization And Basis Of Presentation [Line Items]
Parent company ownership interest	92.00%

Accounts and Other Receivables, Net - Schedule of Accounts Notes Loans and Financing Receivable (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Receivables [Abstract]
Other receivables	$ 62	$ 59
Total	15,294	11,929
CompX
Receivables [Abstract]
Trade receivables	15,302	11,940
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ (70)	$ (70)

Inventories, Net - Schedule of Inventories, Net (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]
Raw materials	$ 3,104	$ 2,941
Work in process	12,237	11,771
Finished products	3,621	3,636
Total	$ 18,962	$ 18,348

Marketable Securities - Schedule of Marketable Securities (Detail) - Level 1 - Valhi Inc - Common stock - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Market value	$ 14,804	$ 26,877
Cost basis	24,347	24,347
Unrealized gain (loss)	$ (9,543)	$ 2,530

Marketable Securities - Additional Information (Detail) - Valhi Inc - Common stock - $ / shares shares in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Available For Sale Securities [Line Items]
Number of shares owned	14.4	14.4
Quoted marked price per share	$ 1.03	$ 1.87

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. - Additional Information (Detail) - Kronos - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of shares owned	35.2	35.2
Aggregate market value	$ 297.3	$ 471.9
Quoted market price per share	$ 8.44	$ 13.40

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. - Changes in Carrying Value of Investment (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 248,355
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	8,207	$ 9,225
Dividends received from Kronos	(6,339)	$ (6,339)
Equity in Kronos' other comprehensive income:
Balance at the end of the period	238,067
Kronos
Balance at the beginning of the period	248,400
Equity in earnings of Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	8,200
Dividends received from Kronos	(6,300)
Equity in Kronos' other comprehensive income:
Currency translation	(12,800)
Other	(300)
Balance at the end of the period	238,100
Kronos \| Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Equity in Kronos' other comprehensive income:
Defined benefit pension plans	$ 900

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. - Selected Financial Information of Kronos Balance Sheet (Detail) - Kronos - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Current assets	$ 1,163.4	$ 1,219.7
Property and equipment, net	459.0	490.6
Investment in TiO2 joint venture	92.4	90.2
Other noncurrent assets	160.0	165.3
Total assets	1,874.8	1,965.8
Current liabilities	231.2	270.6
Long-term debt	436.3	444.0
Accrued pension costs	301.4	307.4
Other noncurrent liabilities	123.6	127.7
Stockholders' equity	782.3	816.1
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,874.8	$ 1,965.8

Investment in Kronos Worldwide, Inc. - Selected Financial Information of Kronos Income Statement (Detail) - Kronos - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 421.0	$ 436.5
Cost of sales	332.9	327.2
Income from operations	43.5	49.0
Income tax expense	8.4	12.8
Net income	$ 27.0	$ 30.3

Other Noncurrent Assets, Net - Summary of Other Noncurrent Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Deferred Costs Capitalized Prepaid And Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Pension asset	$ 4,106	$ 4,294
Other	1,566	1,566
Total	$ 5,672	$ 5,860

Accrued and Other Current Liabilities - Schedule of Accrued and Other Current Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Payables And Accruals [Abstract]
Employee benefits	$ 5,138	$ 8,917
Other	2,345	1,684
Total	$ 7,483	$ 10,601

Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) - NLKW Holding, LLC - Valhi - Valhi Credit Facility	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing under credit facility	$ 50,000,000
Borrowings or repayments under revolving credit facility	0
Outstanding borrowing	500,000
Amount available for future borrowing under revolving credit facility	$ 49,500,000
Debt instrument, description of variable rate basis	prime rate
Variable rate basis spread above reference rate	1.875%
Debt instrument average interest rate	6.31%
Debt instrument interest rate	5.13%

Other Noncurrent Liabilities - Summary of Other Noncurrent Liabilities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Other Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Reserve for uncertain tax positions	$ 4,053	$ 4,053
OPEB	1,068	1,129
Insurance claims and expenses	686	665
Other	386	413
Total	$ 6,193	$ 6,260

Revenue Recognition - Schedule of Disaggregates Net Sales By Reporting Unit (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 32,311	$ 31,176
Security Products
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	25,469	24,704
Marine Components
Disaggregation Of Revenue [Line Items]
Total net sales	$ 6,842	$ 6,472

Employee Benefit Plans - Components of Net Periodic Defined Benefit Cost (Income) (Detail) - Defined Benefit Pension Plans - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Interest cost	$ 355	$ 474
Expected return on plan assets	(461)	(477)
Recognized actuarial losses	380	406
Total	$ 274	$ 403

Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected contribution during 2020	$ 2.0

Income Taxes - Component of Income Taxes (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Expected tax expense (benefit), at U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21%	$ (200)	$ 3,800
Rate differences on equity in earnings of Kronos	(3,200)	(1,400)
U.S. state income taxes and other, net	100	200
Income tax expense (benefit)	$ (3,263)	$ 2,561

Income Taxes - Components of Comprehensive Provision for Income Taxes Allocation (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Comprehensive provision (benefit) for income taxes allocable to:
Net income (loss)	$ (3,263)	$ 2,561
Additional paid-in capital	(100)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Currency translation	(2,700)
Total	(5,800)	2,800
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Defined benefit plans	$ 300	$ 200

Income Taxes - Component of Income Taxes (Parenthetical) (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate	21.00%	21.00%

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	$ 6,339	$ 6,339
Kronos
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Dividends received from Kronos Worldwide, Inc.	6,300	$ 6,300
Kronos \| CARES Act
Income Tax Disclosure [Line Items]
Cash tax benefit due to reversal of valuation allowance	$ 500
Percentage of adjusted taxable income	50.00%		30.00%

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss - Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 304,506
Balance at end of period	295,074
Currency Translation
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(172,843)	$ (172,434)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(10,118)	(25)
Balance at end of period	(182,961)	(172,459)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment \| Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(78,257)	(75,286)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	1,043	828
Balance at end of period	(77,214)	(74,458)
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment \| OPEB
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(590)	(550)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(80)	(70)
Balance at end of period	(670)	(620)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss [Line Items]
Balance at beginning of period	(251,690)	(248,270)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(9,155)	733
Balance at end of period	$ (260,845)	$ (247,537)

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Jul. 24, 2019 USD ($) Defendant Installment	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($) Cases site	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Accrual for reasonably estimable environmental remediation and related matters		$ 94,239		$ 94,508
Environmental Remediation Sites NL Named As PRP Or Defendant
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Accrual for reasonably estimable environmental remediation and related matters		$ 94,000
Number of sites associated with remediation and related costs \| site		32
Number of sites currently not able to reasonably estimate a range of costs \| site		5
Maximum \| Environmental Remediation Sites NL Named As PRP Or Defendant
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Upper end range, estimate costs for remediation and related matters		$ 115,000
Lead Pigment Litigation
Commitments and Contingent Liabilities [Line Items]
Number of cases settled and dismissed and found not liable \| Cases		100
Period by which loss contingency claims settled and dismissed		30 years
Description of defendants		on July 24, 2019, an order approving a global settlement agreement entered into among all of the plaintiffs and the three defendants remaining in the case (the Sherwin Williams Company, ConAgra Grocery Products and us) was entered by the court and the case was dismissed with prejudice. The global settlement agreement provides that an aggregate $305 million will be paid collectively by the three co-defendants in full satisfaction of all claims resulting in a dismissal of the case with prejudice and the resolution of (i) all pending and future claims by the plaintiffs in the case, and (ii) all potential claims for contribution or indemnity between us and our co-defendants in respect to the case.
Number of defendants \| Defendant	3
Litigation settlement amount	$ 305,000
NL's portion of global settlement amount, gross value	101,700
Litigation initial payment made 60 days after litigation settlement	25,000
Remaining litigation settlement charge	$ 76,700
Number of annual installments \| Installment	6
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in first year	$ 12,000
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in second year	12,000
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in third year	12,000
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in fourth year	12,000
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in fifth year	12,000
Remaining litigation settlement payment due in sixth year	$ 16,700
Discounted rate for estimated present value of remaining litigation amount		1.90%
Additional litigation settlement expense			$ 19,300

Commitments and Contingencies - Changes in Accrued Environmental Remediation and Related Costs (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 94,508
Additions charged to expense	20
Payments, net	(289)
Balance at the end of the period	94,239
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at the end of the period:
Current liability	3,357	$ 3,065
Noncurrent liability	$ 90,882	$ 91,443

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Financial Instruments Not Carried at Fair Value (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, Fair value	$ 161,578	$ 157,870
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	23,131	22,707
Carrying Amount
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, Carrying amount	161,578	157,870
Carrying Amount \| CompX
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	23,131	22,707
Fair Value \| CompX
Fair Value Balance Sheet Grouping Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	$ 25,657	$ 24,627