Embraer order book reaches record $35.7 billion in third quarter

Embraer closed the third quarter of 2026 with a record $35.7 billion order backlog, reinforcing the Brazilian aircraft maker’s position as one of the country’s most globally exposed industrial companies.

The company said on Friday, October 23, that the backlog was 14% higher than a year earlier and 3% above the level reported at the end of the second quarter. In aerospace, backlog refers to firm orders and service commitments that have not yet been delivered or fully recognized as revenue. For investors, it is an important measure of future production visibility, although it does not remove execution, certification or supply chain risks.

Embraer, headquartered in Brazil and active across commercial aircraft, business jets, defense platforms and maintenance services, is a rare Latin American manufacturer with deep links to airlines, governments and aviation suppliers around the world. Its latest figures show growth across all major business lines.

Defense demand lifts the order book

The sharpest percentage gain came from Embraer’s defense and security unit. Its backlog reached $6.1 billion, up 56% year on year, helped by an order from the Colombian Air Force for two KC-390 Millennium aircraft.

The KC-390 is Embraer’s military transport and tanker platform, a product that has become central to the company’s defense export ambitions. For international companies watching Brazil’s industrial base, the aircraft is also a reminder that Embraer is not only a civil aviation supplier. It competes in government procurement markets where long sales cycles, strategic relationships and after-sales support can be as important as the aircraft itself.

Defense orders can have a different profile from commercial aviation contracts. They often involve public sector buyers, political approvals and multi-year support arrangements. That can make revenue timing less straightforward, but successful campaigns can also deepen customer relationships and support local maintenance and training ecosystems.

Commercial aviation remains the largest segment

Commercial aviation continued to account for the biggest share of Embraer’s backlog, at $15.8 billion. That was 4% higher than a year earlier.

The company said the segment was supported in the third quarter by orders from Abra Group, Binter, Luxair and ANA Holdings. The customer list points to the role Embraer plays in regional and medium-density routes, where airlines often seek aircraft that can operate profitably below the capacity of larger narrow-body jets.

For Brazil, this is a strategic industry story as much as a corporate one. Embraer sells into a market shaped by global airline fleet renewal, pilot availability, fuel costs and airport infrastructure. Its order book therefore gives international investors a window into demand for a sophisticated Brazilian export product, rather than a purely domestic consumption cycle.

The company had previously reported 66 aircraft deliveries in the third quarter, 6% more than in the same period of the previous year. The reported delivery mix included aircraft across commercial aviation, executive aviation and defense, with 3 defense aircraft delivered during the period.

Executive jets and services also hit records

Executive aviation reached a record $8.2 billion backlog, a 12% increase from the previous year. Embraer linked the performance to certification of the new Phenom 300EV in Brazil, the United States and Europe. Certification is the regulatory approval that allows an aircraft model to be operated in a market, so simultaneous progress across major jurisdictions can matter for sales momentum and delivery planning.

The services and support business also posted a record backlog, at $5.6 billion, up 14% year on year. Embraer said the unit benefited from new long-term service contracts across its three operating segments.

For investors, the services figure is notable because aircraft manufacturers often seek to balance cyclical aircraft sales with recurring maintenance, parts and support revenue. A larger installed base can create demand for technical support long after the original aircraft delivery, making this area strategically important for margins and customer retention.

The latest numbers do not by themselves answer questions about production pace, supplier capacity or cash conversion. But they do show that Embraer entered the final quarter of 2026 with stronger contracted demand across a diversified portfolio, from regional jets and business aircraft to military transport and aftermarket services.

For international companies assessing Brazil’s aviation supply chain, industrial partnerships or investment opportunities, Embraer’s order book is one of the clearest signals of where advanced manufacturing in the country is gaining traction. To explore opportunities to invest in or do business with Brazil, connect with Brazil Business Club.