US designer and marketer of active outdoor apparel and footwear Columbia Sportswear Company has announced first quarter net sales of $260.2 million to end of March - an increase of 5.9% over the $245.7 million reported for the same period in 2005. The company reported net income of $19.5 million, an 8.5% decrease compared with net income of $21.3 million in the comparable period in 2005.

During the quarter, sportswear sales increased 7.3% to $141.8 million, outerwear sales increased 7.8% to $55.2 million, equipment sales increased 52.9% to $5.2 million, and footwear sales increased 1.8% to $50.7 million. Accessories sales decreased 19.8% to $7.3 million, compared with the first quarter of 2005.