Air Products (NYSE: APD), Lehigh Valley, PA, reported sales for the fiscal first quarter of $2.6 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the same period a year ago. Profit for the first quarter increased 11.9 percent to $324.6 million.

The company reported industrial gases sales in the Americas were $1 billion, an increase of 6 percent versus prior year, primarily on higher North America volumes and stronger pricing. Industrial gases sales in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were $501 million, a 9 percent decrease versus last year. And industrial gases sales in Asia were $399 million, a 1 percent increase from a year ago.

And materials technologies sales totaled $524 million for the quarter, an increase of 9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2014.