EXHIBIT 99.1

Harsco Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2011 Diluted Earnings Per Share From Continuing Operations of $0.40 vs. $0.26 in the Third Quarter Last Year

Revenues From Organic Growth Up 10 Percent; Total Revenues Up 14 Percent to $856 Million

CAMP HILL, Pa., Oct. 27, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worldwide industrial solutions company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) today reported third quarter 2011 results from continuing operations.

Third Quarter 2011 Results

Third quarter 2011 diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $0.40, compared with $0.26 per share in the third quarter of last year. Income from continuing operations was $32.4 million, compared with $21.8 million in the third quarter last year. Sales increased by 14 percent in the quarter to $856 million, from $752 million in last year's third quarter. Foreign currency translation increased sales by approximately $28 million and operating income by approximately $1.4 million, compared with the third quarter of last year.

For the first nine months of 2011, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations were $1.02, compared with $0.76 per share in the first nine months of 2010. Income from continuing operations was $85.2 million, compared with $65.8 million in the first nine months of last year.  Sales increased by 10 percent to $2.5 billion, from $2.3 billion in last year's first nine months. Foreign currency translation increased sales by approximately $109 million and increased operating income by approximately $4.2 million, compared with the first nine months of 2011.

Comment and Outlook

Commenting on the Company's results, Harsco Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Salvatore D. Fazzolari said, "Results for the third quarter were within the range of our previous guidance and events generally unfolded as expected, except for end-market conditions in the U.K. for our Harsco Infrastructure business, which deteriorated more significantly than we anticipated. In addition, we incurred certain other headwinds in the third quarter, principally net exit costs of approximately $2.6 million in the Metals & Minerals business and higher LIFO costs in excess of $1 million in the Rail business, which lowered overall results for the third quarter.  

"As expected, cash flow from operations improved significantly in the third quarter and was more than double the level of the second quarter of this year. Historically, we generate higher levels of operating cash flow in the second half of the year, compared with the first half. In regard to the use of these cash flows, it continues to be our intention to take a balanced approach.

"Our balance sheet remains in the best shape it has been in more than a decade. There are no long-term debt maturities until late 2013 and over ninety percent of our debt has a fixed interest rate.

"We are seeing a challenging macroeconomic environment across many of our key end-markets, particularly in Western Europe. In addition, we expect the sale of certain machines in our Rail business to shift from the fourth quarter of 2011 to the first quarter of 2012. Thus, it remains prudent for us to be cautious as we conclude the year. As such, we are adjusting our full-year 2011 guidance from a range of $1.35 to $1.45 to a new range of $1.30 to $1.35. This implies an outlook for the fourth quarter of 2011 for earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.28 to $0.33, which compares with $0.15 in the fourth quarter of last year, excluding the restructuring charge."

Third Quarter Business Review

Harsco Metals & Minerals

The Metals & Minerals operating results were impacted by approximately $2.6 million of net exit costs, including costs from the Company's decision not to renew certain lower return, long-term contracts in the Metals part of the business, and substantially lower stainless steel production (a 22 percent decline in volume) in the Minerals part of the business. 

Sales for this Segment in the third quarter increased approximately $31 million to $400 million, up 8 percent from $369 million in last year's comparable quarter. Foreign currency translation increased sales in the quarter by approximately $15 million, and operating income by approximately $1.3 million. Operating income in the third quarter decreased by $3.1 million to $30.9 million or by approximately 9 percent from operating income of $34.0 million in the third quarter last year. Likewise, operating margins of 7.7 percent in the third quarter were lower than the 9.2 percent in the third quarter of 2010.

This Segment is expected to show modest year-over-year improvement in results in the fourth quarter. Steel production for the remainder of 2011 is expected to slow from third quarter 2011 levels and, as discussed last quarter, stainless steel production is expected to remain lower year-over-year. The Company continues to see success in new contract signings and in its efforts to exit existing lower return contracts, which should increase future margins and returns on capital. The Segment has also entered into two new strategic technology alliances which the Company believes have the potential for future growth opportunities.

Harsco Infrastructure

The Harsco Infrastructure Segment continued to benefit in the third quarter from cost savings generated from the successful implementation of its major restructuring plan announced at the end of 2010. However, during the third quarter there was a significant further deterioration in the operating results in the United Kingdom due to that country's worsening economic conditions. According to published reports in early September, new construction orders in the U.K. had reached a thirty-year low. Had it not been for the significant negative impact of the U.K., the overall Infrastructure business results would have been close to break-even for the third quarter. As a result of the further decline of the U.K. market and the slowdown in Western Europe, the Company is currently reviewing additional countermeasures and cost reduction actions to improve future results. 

Sales in the third quarter increased approximately 11 percent to $282 million, from $254 million in the third quarter of last year. Foreign currency translation increased sales by approximately $12 million in the third quarter compared with the third quarter of 2010, but did not have a material impact on operating income. An operating loss of ($3.3) million was incurred in the third quarter, compared with an operating loss of ($13.6) million in the third quarter of last year and an operating loss of ($5.1) million in the second quarter of this year on sales of $298 million.

The Company expects Infrastructure's fourth quarter loss to be higher than those of both the second and the third quarters of 2011, due principally to the U.K. market conditions and an expected seasonal slow-down in business activity in the fourth quarter, but expects to show measurable improvement over last year's fourth quarter, excluding the restructuring charge. 

Harsco Rail

Operating margins in the third quarter of 13.3 percent were lower than the 20.4 percent in the comparable quarter of the prior year. Lower operating income and margins in the third quarter were the result of several factors, including higher year-over-year LIFO costs and the large sale at book value of previously used machines, as well as business mix. Operating income in the quarter decreased to $11.6 million from $14.4 million in the third quarter of last year due to these items.

Sales in the third quarter increased approximately 24 percent to $87 million, from $71 million in the third quarter of 2010. A majority of the sales increase, however, was due to the aforementioned large sale of machines sold at book value. Foreign currency translation also increased sales in the third quarter by almost $1 million, but did not have a material impact on operating income. 

Sequential improvement in operating income and margins is expected in the fourth quarter of 2011 over the third quarter of 2011. As previously reported, however, fourth quarter 2011 results are expected to be tempered by the timing of several machine sales that were expected to be delivered late in the fourth quarter of 2011, but which are now expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2012. Nevertheless, total 2011 revenues for this Segment are still expected to approximate those of 2010 and again exceed the $300 million level.

The global demand for railway maintenance-of-way equipment, parts, and services continues to be strong and the Class I railroads in the United States continue to report increased freight shipments, a positive indication of further opportunities for this Segment going into 2012. The Company expects to enter 2012 with a solid order book.

Harsco Industrial

Operating margins of 16.1 percent were slightly lower than last year's 17.6 percent, due in part to higher LIFO costs in the third quarter of 2011, compared with the third quarter of 2010.

Sales in the third quarter increased 46 percent to $86 million from last year's third quarter sales of $59 million. Likewise, operating income increased approximately 33 percent to $13.8 million, from $10.3 million in the third quarter of last year. 

The fourth quarter of 2011 is expected to produce operating income comparable to that of the fourth quarter of last year. The longer-term outlook for this Segment remains favorable as many of this Segment's manufactured products are utilized in the energy markets. This, combined with the Company's continued success in expanding this Segment globally, is expected to result in significant growth.

Liquidity, Capital Resources and Other Matters

As expected, net cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter improved considerably over the first half of 2011 and bettered last year's third quarter by 12 percent. Net cash provided by operating activities for the third quarter of 2011 was $123 million, compared with $110 million for the third quarter of the prior year. Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2011 was $190 million, compared with $236 million for the first nine months of the prior year. The decline in cash from operations is due principally to higher working capital from increased sales and $17 million in cash used for the restructuring of the Harsco Infrastructure Segment.

The total debt to capital ratio at September 30, 2011 was 38.0 percent, unchanged from June 30, 2011 and only slightly higher than the 37.6 percent ratio at December 31, 2010, which was the Company's lowest level since 1998. Total debt outstanding stood at $917 million as of September 30, 2011, compared with $884.9 million at the end of 2010.

Economic Value Added (EVA^®) increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2011 over the comparable periods in 2010, due principally to higher earnings.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections. All statements that address expectations or projections about the future, including statements about the company's strategy for growth, product development, market position, expected expenditures and financial results are forward-looking statements. Some of the forward-looking statements may be identified by words like "may," "could," "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "plans," "intends," "projects," "indicates," and similar expressions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors, including those discussed more fully elsewhere in this release and in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission by Harsco, particularly its latest annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly report on Form 10-Q, as well as others, could cause results to differ materially from those stated. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the worldwide business environment in which the Company operates, including general economic conditions; changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, commodity and fuel costs and capital costs; changes in the performance of the equity and debt markets that could affect, among other things, the valuation of the assets in the Company's pension plans and the accounting for pension assets, liabilities and expenses; changes in governmental laws and regulations, including environmental, tax and import tariff standards; market and competitive changes, including pricing pressures, market demand and acceptance for new products, services, and technologies; unforeseen business disruptions in one or more of the many countries in which the Company operates due to political instability, civil disobedience, armed hostilities, public health issues or other calamities; the seasonal nature of the Company's business; our ability to successfully enter into new contracts and complete new acquisitions or joint ventures in the timeframe contemplated or at all; the recent global financial and credit crisis, which could result in our customers curtailing development projects, construction, production and capital expenditures, which, in turn, could reduce the demand for our products and services and, accordingly, our sales, margins and profitability; the financial condition of the Company's customers, including the ability of customers (especially those that may be highly leveraged and those with inadequate liquidity) to maintain their credit availability; risk and uncertainty associated with intangible assets; the successful integration of the Company's strategic acquisitions; the amount and timing of repurchases of the Company's common stock, if any; our ability to successfully implement cost-reduction initiatives, including the achievement of expected cost savings in the expected timeframe; and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results and respond to questions from the investment community. The conference call will be broadcast live through the Harsco Corporation website at www.harsco.com. The call can also be accessed by telephone by dialing (800) 611-4920, or (973) 200-3957 for international callers. Enter Conference ID number 13950424. Listeners are advised to dial in at least five minutes prior to the call. Replays will be available via the Harsco website. 

About Harsco

Harsco Corporation is a global solutions company serving major industries that are fundamental to worldwide infrastructure development and economic growth. Harsco's common stock is a component of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and the Russell 1000 Index. Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.

The Harsco Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=361

CONTACT: Investor Contact
         Eugene M. Truett
         717.975.5677
         etruett@harsco.com

         Media Contact
         Kenneth D. Julian
         717.730.3683
         kjulian@harsco.com