Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer said on Tuesday its first-quarter net profit rose 8 percent on higher sales from the year-ago period, but a strong local currency weighed on the results.

The world's fourth-largest commercial aircraft manufacturer posted a net profit of BRR63.4 million reais (USD$38 million) in the first three months of 2008.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, a measure of cash flow known as EBITDA, rose to BRR131.5 million from BRR113.7 million in the first quarter of 2007.

Jet deliveries in the first quarter rose sharply to 45 units from 25 aircraft a year earlier.

Net revenues jumped 32 percent to BRR2.3 billion, boosted by higher deliveries but impacted by the mix of products delivered and the foreign exchange rate. Brazil's currency has been strengthening against the dollar, which affects big exporters like Embraer.

The company, whose core business is regional jets, has been diversifying its product line with smaller executive jets. In March, it said would invest USD$750 million to develop two new business jets, boosting its line-up of executive jets to six.