2006年北美地区的铁粉货运量比上年下降了约5%,降为378396t(416828st),其中粉末冶金生产用铁粉的货运量比上年下降了约5%,降为342244t(377004st)。一些观察员将北美地区2006年铁粉货运量的下降归因为:北美地区三大汽车制造公司丢失市场份额以及运动车(SUV)和轻型卡车的消费转移 In North America in 2006, the freight volume of iron powder dropped by about 5% over the previous year to 378396t (416828st), of which the freight volume for powder metallurgy production decreased by 5% over the previous year to 342244t (377004st) . Some observers attributed the decline in North American iron powder shipments in 2006 to the loss of market share by the Big Three automakers in North America and the shift in spending on SUVs and light trucks