26 Y ear Ended December  31, 2012 Compar ed with Y ear Ended December  31, 201 1 Net Sales The following tables set forth net sales, metal-adjusted net sales and metal pounds sold by segment, in millions. For the metal- adjusted net sales results, net sales for 201 1 have been adjusted to reflect the 2012 copper average price of $ 3.62 per pound (a $ 0.39 decrease compared to the prior period) and the aluminum average price of $ 1.02 per pound (a $ 0.14 decrease compared to the prior period). Metal-adjusted net sales, a non-GAAP financial measure, are provided herein in order to eliminate the ef fect of metal price volatility from the comparison of revenues from one period to another . The comparable GAAP financial measure is set forth below . Refer to Item 7 - MD&A – Significant Current Business T rends and Events in the previous discussion of metal price volatility . Net Sales Y ear Ended   Dec 31, 2012 Dec 31, 2011   Amount % Amount % North America $ 2,340.2 39 % $ 2,120.2 36 % Europe and Mediterranean 1,678.9 28 % 1,735.7 30 % ROW 1,995.2 33 % 2,010.8 34 % Total net sales $ 6,014.3 100 % $ 5,866.7 100 % Metal-Adjusted Net Sales Y ear Ended   Dec 31, 2012 Dec 31, 2011   Amount % Amount % North America $ 2,340.2 39 % $ 2,023.8 36 % Europe and Mediterranean 1,678.9 28 % 1,654.8 30 % ROW 1,995.2 33 % 1,889.2 34 % Total metal-adjusted net sales $ 6,014.3 100 % $ 5,567.8 100 % Metal adjustment —   298.9   Total net sales $ 6,014.3   $ 5,866.7     Metal Pounds Sold Y ear Ended   Dec 31, 2012 Dec 31, 2011   Pounds % Pounds % North America 432.1 38 % 317.4 32 % Europe and Mediterranean 282.0 25 % 273.8 27 % ROW 411.8 37 % 415.0 41 % Total metal pounds sold 1,125.9 100 % 1,006.2 100 % Net sales increased $ 147.6 million , or 3% , to $6,014.3 million in 2012 from 201 1 and metal-adjusted net sales increased $ 446.5 million , or 8% , in 2012 from 201 1 . The increase in metal-adjusted net sales of $ 446.5 million  reflects favorable selling price and product mix of $ 332.5 million , net sales of $268.8 million attributable to acquisitions, and higher sales volume of $51.9 million partially of fset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $ 206.7 million . V olume, as measured by metal pounds sold, increased by 1 19.7 million pounds, or 12% , in 2012 compared to 201 1 . Metal pounds sold is provided herein as the Company believes this metric to be a consistent year over year measure of sales volume since it is not impacted by metal prices or foreign currency exchange rate changes. Metal-adjusted net sales in the North America segment increased $ 316.4 million , or 16% , principally due to net sales of $229.0 million attributable to acquisitions, higher sales volumes of $64.5 million and favorable selling price and product mix of $ 25.9 million partially of fset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate changes of $ 3.0 million , principally related to the Canadian dollar . V olume, as measured by metal pounds sold, increased by 1 14.7 million  pounds, or 36% , in 2012 compared to 201 1 . The increase in volume is primarily attributable to the acquisitions executed in 2012 . In addition to the acquisitions made in 2012 , volume improvement principally reflects increased demand for bare aluminum transmission products and specialty cables, particularly those used in natural resource extraction and transit applications. T able of Contents