China has become Brazil's third largest machinery equipment supplier, with its machinery exports to Brazil surging nearly 150 percent to 364 million U.S. dollars in the first two months of 2008, the Brazilian machinery builders association said Tuesday.

In the period under review, Brazil imported machinery equipment worth 3.27 billion dollars, a 66.1-percent increase year-on-year, according to figures released by the association.

The United States is Brazil's largest machinery equipment supplier, exporting 835 million dollars worth of equipment to the South American nation. It is followed by Germany with an export value of 465 million dollars.

The vice president of the Brazilian Machinery Builders' Association, Jose Velloso Dias Cardoso, said: "Three years ago, China was the 15th supplier of machinery equipment to Brazil. However, by last year it had already climbed up to fourth place, and this year China took a further step by ranking third, after only the U.S. and Germany."

The president of the Brazil-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIBC), Charles Tang, said made-in-China machinery equipment is gaining popularity due to their high quality and low prices.

This is highlighted by a recent announcement from Brazilian metal and steel producer Gerdau S.A. that it is ready to import Chinese machinery equipment worth 250 million dollars.

Media reports predict China will overtake Germany to become the second largest machinery supplier to Brazil by the end of this year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)