UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                   FORM 12b-25
                           NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING


                               NL Industries, Inc.


                             SEC FILE NUMBER: 1-640


     [ ] Form 10-K [ ] Form 20-F [X ] Form 11-K [ ] Form 10-Q [ ] Form N-SAR


                       For Period Ended: December 31, 2003


      [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K [ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
      [ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K [ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
                       [ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
                        For the Transition Period Ended:


    Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the Commission has
                   verified any information contained herein.



 If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked above, identify
          the Item(s) to which the notification relates: Not applicable







                         PART I - REGISTRANT INFORMATION


Full Name of Registrant: NL Industries, Inc. ("NL")

Former Name if Applicable:  Not Applicable

Address of Principal Executive Office:
                        5430 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1700
                        Three Lincoln Centre, Dallas, Texas  75240-2697

Full Name of Benefit Plan reporting on Form 11-K: NL Industries, Inc. Retirement
Savings Plan ("Plan")



                        PART II - RULES 12b-25(b) AND (c)


If the subject report could not be filed without  unreasonable effort or expense
and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule 12b-25(b), the following should
be completed.

[X]  (a)  The reasons  described in  reasonable  detail in Part III of this form
          could not be eliminated without unreasonable effort or expense;

[X]  (b)  The subject annual report,  semi-annual  report,  transition report on
          Form 10-K, Form 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion thereof,  will be
          filed on or before the fifteenth calendar day following the prescribed
          due date; or the subject quarterly report or transition report on Form
          10-Q,  or  portion  thereof,  will be filed  on or  before  the  fifth
          calendar day following the prescribed due date; and

[  ] (c)  The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by Rule 12b-25(c)
          has been attached, if applicable.

                              PART III - NARRATIVE


State below in reasonable  detail the reasons why Forms 10-K,  20-F, 11-K, 10-Q,
N-SAR, or the transition  report or portion  thereof,  could not be filed within
the prescribed period:


The Form 11-K for the fiscal year ended  December 31, 2003 covering the Plan, to
be filed under Form 10-K/A of NL's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2003 as Exhibit No. 99.1,  could not be filed within the prescribed
period without unreasonable effort or expense.







                           PART IV - OTHER INFORMATION


(1)  Name  and  telephone  number  of  person  to  contact  in  regard  to  this
notification:

Gregory M.  Swalwell,  Vice  President,  Finance  and Chief  Financial  Officer.
972-450-4228.


(2) Have all other  periodic  reports  required under Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30 of the Investment  Company Act of
1940  during  the  preceding  12  months  or for such  shorter  period  that the
Registrant was required to file such report(s) been filed?  If the answer is no,
identify report(s).

                                 [X] Yes [ ] No


(3) Is it anticipated that any significant  change in results of operations from
the  corresponding  period for the last  fiscal  year will be  reflected  by the
earnings statements to be included in the subject report or portion thereof?

                                 [X] Yes [ ] No

If so, attach an explanation of the  anticipated  change,  both  narratively and
quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the reasons why a reasonable estimate
of the results cannot be made.

The Plan expects to report a net increase in net assets  available  for benefits
of approximately $2.9 million for 2003.

As provided by the safe harbor provisions of the Private  Securities  Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, NL cautions that  statements in this Form 12b-25 relating to
matters that are not historical facts including,  but not limited to, statements
found in this Part IV - "Other Information," are forward-looking statements that
represent  management's  beliefs and  assumptions  based on currently  available
information.  Forward-looking  statements  can be identified by the use of words
such as "believes," "intends," "may," "will," "should," "could,"  "anticipates,"
"expects," or comparable  terminology  or by  discussions of strategy or trends.
Although NL believes  that the  expectations  reflected in such  forward-looking
statements are reasonable, it cannot give any assurances that these expectations
will prove to be correct.  Such  statements  by their nature  involve  risks and
uncertainties.   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.  NL disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise
such  statements  whether  as a result  of new  information,  future  events  or
otherwise.











NL Industries,  Inc. has caused this  notification to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




Date: June 28, 2004                                         NL INDUSTRIES, INC.



                     By:    /s/ Gregory M. Swalwell
                            ---------------------------------------------------
                            Gregory M. Swalwell
                            Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer