Brazilian shoe exports fell 4% in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the same period last year. According to statistics released by the Brazilian Association of Footwear Manufacturers (Abicalçados), 57.4 million pairs of shoes were exported compared with 60.1 million pairs in the first quarter of 2005. However, revenue from shoe exports rose 3% to $502 million, from the $489.4 million in the comparable period last year. This increase reflects a 7% rise in the average price per pair, which reached $8.74 in this period.