Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, reported an 8.1 percent rise in first-quarter profit on Tuesday due to the strong increase in international sales.

The retailer giant said it earned 2.83 billion dollars, or 68 cents per share in the first-quarter, compared with 2.62 billion dollars, or 64 cents per share, in the previous year quarter.

First-quarter sales at the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer were 85.387 billion dollars, an increase of 8.3 percent over the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, while its international sales rose 18.5 percent in the quarter to 19.63 billion dollars.

Income from continuing operations for the quarter was 2.826 billion dollars, an increase of 6.2 percent from 2.660 billion dollars in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007.

"While these are record sales and earnings, we feel there was an opportunity to have done better," said Lee Scott, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and chief executive.