particular geographic area are not indicative of end-user consumption in that geographic area. Financial information related to 3M operations in various geographic areas is provided in Note 16.

 

A summary of key information and discussion related to 3M’s geographic areas follow:

  

For total year 2012, as shown in the preceding table, sales rose 1.0 percent, with organic volume increases of 1.2 percent and selling price increases of 1.4 percent. Acquisitions added 0.8 percent, while foreign currency effects reduced sales by 2.4 percent. Organic local-currency sales growth was led by Latin American/Canada at 10.9 percent and the United States at 4.2 percent. Organic local-currency sales increased in Asia Pacific by 0.1 percent and declined in EMEA by 0.6 percent. For 2012, international operations represented 64.8 percent of 3M’s sales.

  

For total year 2011, as shown in the preceding table, sales rose 11.1 percent, with organic volume increases of 3.7 percent, selling price increases of 1.0 percent, acquisitions of 3.3 percent, and foreign currency effects of 3.1 percent. Every major geographic region expanded sales, with organic local-currency sales in Latin America/Canada up 10.9 percent, the United States up 5.9 percent, Europe, Middle East and Africa up 3.2 percent, and Asia Pacific up 2.1 percent. For 2011, international operations represented 66.1 percent of 3M’s sales.



Geographic Area Supplemental Information

  

Employment:

 

Employment increased by 3,479 positions in 2012 and 4,141 positions in 2011. Acquisitions increased employment by approximately 2,500 and 2,250 full-time equivalents for 2012 and 2011, respectively. In addition, the other primary factor that increased employment in both years was additions in developing economies to support growth.

 

Capital Spending/Net Property, Plant and Equipment:

 

Investments in property, plant and equipment enable growth across many diverse markets, helping to meet product demand and increasing manufacturing efficiency. Capital spending was $1.484 billion in 2012, compared to $1.379 billion in 2011 and $1.091 billion in 2010. The Company expects 2013 capital spending to be approximately $1.6 to $1.8 billion, as 3M continues to invest in its businesses. In 2012, 3M expanded manufacturing capacity in key growth markets, particularly with respect to international and emerging market countries. This included investments in China, Turkey and Poland, in addition to investments in Singapore and the U.S. 3M also increased investments in IT systems and infrastructure and made strategic investments in research/development infrastructure and manufacturing sites to lay the foundation for future growth. In 2011, a large portion of the capital investment was used to address supply constraints in a number of businesses with significant growth potential, such as renewable energy, traffic signage in developing economies, and optically clear adhesives and glass bubbles. In addition, some of the following 2010 capital projects carried forward into 2011. In 2010, in the U.S., 3M invested in film manufacturing assets for optical systems and other non-optical businesses which use similar