3M’s international subsidiaries helped the company increase revenues by 8.9 percent during its most recent fiscal quarter.

On Thursday it reported first-quarter sales of $6.5 billion. Net income was $988 million, or $1.38 per share, versus $1.4 billion, or $1.85 per share during the first quarter of 2007.

The company operates its largest North American plant in Hutchinson, where it employs approximately 1,500 workers.

George W. Buckley, 3M chairman, president and CEO, said the results demonstrate the strength of the company’s global presence and the power of a diverse business portfolio.

“Two-thirds of our sales came from our international subsidiaries, and growth in many developing economies enabled us to overcome economic challenges in the U.S. and to fund investments to secure the future of our enduring franchises,“ he said.

Four of the company’s six global businesses achieved double-digit profit growth in the quarter, namely Industrial and Transportation, Health Care, Safety Security and Protection Services, and Electro and Communications, which more than offset profit declines in 3M’s Consumer and Office and Display and Graphics businesses.

(Doug Hanneman is editor of the Hutchinson Leader. He may be reached at hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com)