appliance, paper and packaging, food and beverage, electronics, automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and automotive aftermarket (auto body shops and retail). Industrial and Transportation products include tapes, a wide variety of coated and non-woven abrasives, adhesives, specialty materials, filtration products, closure systems for personal hygiene products, and components and products that are used in the manufacture, repair and maintenance of automotive, marine, aircraft and specialty vehicles.

 

2008 can be characterized as a tale of two distinct chapters for Industrial and Transportation. The first was January through October, characterized by outstanding top-and bottom-line growth across most of the portfolio; the second chapter was the combined months of November and December, when many large customers slowed their operations. 3M expects that the strength of its new products, supply chain improvements and expansion into areas like energy, aerospace, filtration and now renewable energy, will help carry it through some very challenging times.

 

Among 3M’s business segments, Industrial and Transportation has been among those most affected by recent economic contractions, particularly in big industries such as automotive and electronics. With worldwide industrial production in decline, 3M’s Industrial and Transportation business had fourth quarter 2008 sales of $1.7 billion, an 11.3 percent decline compared to 2007. Local-currency sales were down 6.3 percent, including a positive 3.2 percent impact from acquisitions. Not all divisions within Industrial were impacted equally in the fourth quarter. Those that are heavily linked to automotive manufacturing, namely automotive OEM and 3M Dyneon, saw declines of more than 20 percent, as did businesses selling to the electronics industry, such as high-tech tapes and adhesives. Most other divisions experienced local-currency sales contractions of less than 10 percent in the fourth quarter. The most significant bright spot in the quarter was the automotive aftermarket business, which contributed solid local-currency growth. Geographically, fourth quarter 2008 local-currency sales were down in all regions, with the largest declines in the U.S. and Asia Pacific, followed by Europe. Local-currency sales were flat in Latin America. Operating income in the fourth quarter declined 42 percent to $203 million, which included net charges of $36 million for restructuring actions and exit activities.

 

Full-year 2008 sales looked far more positive, with sales up 7.6 percent to $7.8 billion. Local-currency growth rates were strongest in the automotive aftermarket business. 3M also drove strong sales growth in two of its largest divisions, namely abrasives and industrial tapes and adhesives. Closure systems for personal hygiene products also showed good growth. Geographically, all major regions drove positive local-currency sales growth. Strong market penetration continued in emerging economies, especially the high growth BRICP countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and Poland), where the business drove strong organic local-currency growth. Operating income declined, but increased after