EXHIBIT 99.2



Contact: Jeffrey J. Hattara                          (NYSE-BMC)
         (612) 851-6030                              FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


              BMC INDUSTRIES, INC. ANNOUNCES THE ITC RULING ON ITS
                  ANTIDUMPING PETITION AGAINST CERTAIN APERTURE
                        MASKS FROM JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA

April 23, 1999 - Minneapolis, Minnesota - BMC Industries, Inc. announced that
the United States International Trade Commission ("ITC") ruled 4-2 against
proceeding with BMC's antidumping duty petition filed against Japanese and South
Korean aperture mask manufacturers. Although the Department of Commerce
initially determined that BMC made sufficient allegations of below cost pricing
to support its dumping claim, the ITC could not beyond a reasonable doubt
connect the dumping to BMC's financial injury.

Jeffrey J. Hattara, BMC's Chief Financial Officer, stated, "We believe that
certain internal and external market conditions that affected BMC's 1998
financial performance clouded the ITC panel's ability to connect the dumping
activities to injury to our financial performance. As we resolve those internal
issues and market factors change, however, we believe we would have the ability
to more directly connect any below cost pricing to financial injury. We will
continue to monitor competitor pricing and take further action, if necessary, to
combat any dumping activities."

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created
thereby. Statements made in this press release which are not strictly
historical, including statements regarding future performance, are
forward-looking statements and as such are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties. Other risks and uncertainties are detailed in BMC's Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1998.

BMC Industries, Inc. is one of the world's largest manufacturers of aperture
masks for color picture tubes used in televisions and computer monitors. BMC is
also a leading producer of polycarbonate, glass and plastic eyewear lenses.
BMC's common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
BMC.
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