Net sales of tubular products and services increased 10% to $10,023.3 million in 2012, compared to $9,111.7 million in 2011, reflecting a 3% increase in volumes and a 7% increase in average selling prices, driven by an improvement in the mix of products which offset the impact of lower prices in less differentiated products. In North America, the increase in sales was mainly driven by higher liquids drilling activity, together with a recovery in activity in the Gulf of Mexico and higher drilling activity in Mexico. In South America, sales increased led by higher demand from offshore projects in Brazil and increasing activity levels in Argentina, which more than offset lower demand in the Andean region. In Europe, we had higher sales of OCTG products in the North Sea and Romania due to higher oil and gas drilling activity, which were offset by lower demand for mechanical products. In the Middle East and Africa, sales decreased mainly due to lower shipments of line pipe products and lower selling prices. In the Far East and Oceania, sales decreased mainly due to lower shipments of OCTG products in China and Indonesia, partially offset by higher shipments to regional HPI projects.
Operating income from tubular products and services, increased 32% to $2,251.8 million in 2012, from $1,702.2 million in 2011. The increase in the operating income was mainly driven by a 10% increase in sales and a higher operating margin (22% in 2012 vs. 19% in 2011). Our operating margin increased in 2012 due to an increase in average selling prices, lower raw material costs and operating efficiency improvements.
Increase / Others FY 2012 FY 2011 (Decrease)Net sales ($ million) 810.7 860.8 (6%)Operating income ($ million) 104.8 142.7 (27%)Operating income (% of sales) 13% 17%
Net sales of other products and services decreased 6% to $810.7 million in 2012, compared to $860.8 million in 2011, mainly due to lower sales of industrial equipment in Brazil, partially offset by higher sales of sucker rods.
Operating income from other products and services, decreased 27% to $104.8 million in 2012, from $142.7 million in 2011, reflecting the reduction in activity levels in our industrial equipment business in Brazil, which had a negative impact in operating performance and margins.
Selling, general and administrative expenses, or SG&A, decreased as a percentage of net sales to 17.4% in 2012 compared to 18.6% in 2011, mainly due to the better absorption of fixed and semi-fixed expenses on higher sales.
Other operating income and expenses resulted in net income of $43.7 million in 2012, compared to a net income of $5.1 million in 2011. In 2012, Confab, our Brazilian subsidiary, collected $49.2 million from the Brazilian government, in interest and monetary adjustment over a tax benefit obtained in 1991.
Net interest expenses totalled $22.0 million in 2012, compared to $21.6 million in 2011, which included $5.6 million in losses on interest rate swaps. Excluding the effect of interest rate swaps in 2011, net interest expenses increased during 2012 due to an increase in our net debt of $595.0 million, as we went from a net cash position of $323.6 million at the end of 2011 to a net debt position of $271.3 million at the end of 2012, following investments in Brazil amounting to $1.3 billion in the first half of 2012.
