An overview of performance and sales for our three core businesses is provided from here on.
Firstly, net sales of ¥130.3 billion were recorded for Business Technologies Business during the first quarter of the fiscal year ending in March 2013. Net sales were down 3% year on year due to the significant impact caused by the strong yen. However, net sales were up 3% year on year if the impact of the high yen is excluded, which we recognize as reflecting solid sales momentum for the office and production print segments. Although operating income decreased 16% year on year to ¥3.0 billion, operating income nearly doubled year on year if the impact of exchange rates is excluded.
Net sales of ¥107.4 billion were recorded for the office segment, a decrease of 3% year on year. However, if the impact of exchange rates is excluded, operating income was up 2% year on year overall, with income up or flat year on year for all regions. Sales were largely in line with the sales plan for the quarter, which were kept conservative taking into account the full launch of new office color MFPS in the second quarter.
Net sales for the production print segment were flat year on year at ¥23.0 billion. Excluding the impact of exchange rates, net sales were up 5% year on year and sales increased for all regions. As will be explained in detail on a following slide, performance was in line with sales plans for the quarter, which were conservative.
As a reference, sales growth rates on a local currency basis are displayed for the four markets of Japan, the US, Europe, and China. On a local currency basis, sales were up in each region for both the office and production print segments. Although sales grew by 0% year on year in China, this is seen as being due to restrained purchasing in anticipation of the switchover to new products.
In response to concerns regarding a slowdown in sales of the office segment in Europe, although sales grew by 0% year on year in the office segment, this was due to a year-on-year decline in sales in Southern Europe and parts of Northern Europe. Meanwhile, positive growth was maintained in Eastern Europe and in Western Europe including the UK, Germany, and France. Because the sales plan for the fiscal year ending in March 2013 was conservative in consideration of the current macro-economic trends in Europe, performance did not deviate significantly from the sales plan.
Firstly, net sales of ¥130.3 billion were recorded for Business Technologies Business during the first quarter of the fiscal year ending in March 2013. Net sales were down 3% year on year due to the significant impact caused by the strong yen. However, net sales were up 3% year on year if the impact of the high yen is excluded, which we recognize as reflecting solid sales momentum for the office and production print segments. Although operating income decreased 16% year on year to ¥3.0 billion, operating income nearly doubled year on year if the impact of exchange rates is excluded.
Net sales of ¥107.4 billion were recorded for the office segment, a decrease of 3% year on year. However, if the impact of exchange rates is excluded, operating income was up 2% year on year overall, with income up or flat year on year for all regions. Sales were largely in line with the sales plan for the quarter, which were kept conservative taking into account the full launch of new office color MFPS in the second quarter.
Net sales for the production print segment were flat year on year at ¥23.0 billion. Excluding the impact of exchange rates, net sales were up 5% year on year and sales increased for all regions. As will be explained in detail on a following slide, performance was in line with sales plans for the quarter, which were conservative.
As a reference, sales growth rates on a local currency basis are displayed for the four markets of Japan, the US, Europe, and China. On a local currency basis, sales were up in each region for both the office and production print segments. Although sales grew by 0% year on year in China, this is seen as being due to restrained purchasing in anticipation of the switchover to new products.
In response to concerns regarding a slowdown in sales of the office segment in Europe, although sales grew by 0% year on year in the office segment, this was due to a year-on-year decline in sales in Southern Europe and parts of Northern Europe. Meanwhile, positive growth was maintained in Eastern Europe and in Western Europe including the UK, Germany, and France. Because the sales plan for the fiscal year ending in March 2013 was conservative in consideration of the current macro-economic trends in Europe, performance did not deviate significantly from the sales plan.