MIDLAND, MI – Dow Chemical reported first-quarter sales rose 48% year-over-year to $13.4 billion.

Sales in the Electronic and Specialty Materials segment were $1.3 billion, up 30% year-over-year.

Sales in Coatings and Infrastructure were $1.2 billion, up 21% compared with the same period last year.

Overall, net income from continuing operations for the quarter was $552 million, compared with net income from continuing operations of $24 million in the first quarter of 2009, and $178 million last quarter.

Sequentially, sales increased 8%, with volume and pricing each up 4%.

Double-digit volume increases were reported in all geographic areas and in all operating segments versus the first quarter of 2009, except Basic Plastics and Health and Agricultural Sciences. The combined performance segments achieved a 26% increase in volume year-over-year, excluding Health and Agricultural Sciences, which was down from the record sales volumes of the first quarter last year.

North America and EMEA each delivered volume gains of 11%, while emerging geographies delivered volume growth of 27% versus one year ago. Strong demand growth was led by Greater China, which was up 46%. In addition, volume grew by 20% or more versus the same period last year in Brazil, India and Eastern Europe.