In the fourth quarter alone, Embraer delivered 42 planes, up from 30 a year earlier.

Boeing delivered 527 planes last year, 62 percent of the total, but its leadership is clearly threatened.

Airbus delivered 118 planes, up from 102 in the period a year earlier.

The project is expected to deliver 4,700 planes to China over the next 20 years.

Until now, Boeing had said it expects to deliver 275 to 300 planes next year.

Airbus has been saying it expects to deliver 300 planes next year.

Grumman had expected to deliver 12 planes a year through the 1990's.

Boeing is still committed to delivering 550 planes this year and a record 620 in 1999.

The company expects to deliver 380 planes this year.

Airbus also said it had delivered 534 planes in 2011, compared with 477 by Boeing.