Russia may block Embraer aircraft on Sukhoi-report

SAO PAULO, June 18 (Reuters) - The Russian government may not allow Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer (EMBR3.SA) to sell large regional jets in its market, seeking to protect local manufacturer Sukhoi Civil Aircraft, Brazilian newspaper Valor Economico newspaper reported on Thursday.

The decision would limit Embraer (ERJ.N) to sales of smaller jets in the Russian market, just as Sukhoi started sales of its Superjet 100 planes, Valor said, citing comments from Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim.

Amorim told Valor in an interview he expects Embraer planes with no more than 70 seats will be granted certification by the Russian government.

The Brazilian government wants to include in bilateral trade talks a proposal to speed up the approval of bigger regional aircraft by Embraer in Russia, Amorim told Valor. Amorim also expects more competition in the regional jet market as Chinese and Indian companies develop their own prototypes.

Sukhoi this week introduced its Superjet model at the Paris Air Show, with 122 firm orders so far.

Embraer shares rose 2.1 percent on Wednesday to 8.19 reais. (Reporting by Guillermo Parra-Bernal, editing by Maureen Bavdek)