This Morning in Metals: Norsk Hydro’s Alunorte signs deal to research feasibility of low-carbon cement from bauxite residue

Alunorte reaches research deal with UFPA

Norsk Hydro’s Alunorte alumina refinery in Brazil has reached a deal to study the feasibility of producing low-carbon cement from bauxite residue.
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“The project is part of the agreement between Hydro and the University initiated in 2019 on several lines of research, including the residue resulting from Hydro’s operations: the Alunorte alumina refinery in Barcarena and the bauxite mine in Paragominas,” Hydro said in a release this week.
“Research aimed at sustainable low-carbon cement production addresses Hydro’s sustainability goal for bauxite residue. The company seeks to use part of this residue to generate new products by 2030, using approximately 500,000 tonnes of bauxite residue per year.”

EIA: April crude inventory rise stems from falling refinery runs

As noted here previously, the U.S. has seen rising crude oil inventories in recent months amid a decline in demand (stemming from stay-at-home orders orders imposed during the coronavirus pandemic).
According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), “April’s crude oil inventory increase is a result of refinery runs falling more quickly than crude oil supply, which is determined by domestic production and imports.”
“U.S. crude oil production in April averaged 12.1 million b/d, a decrease of 669,000 b/d (5%) from March,” the EIA reported. “This decrease represents the largest month-over-month decline since September 2008, when Hurricanes Ike and Gustav hit the U.S. Gulf Coast. U.S. crude oil imports fell by 776,000 b/d (12%) from March to April, further decreasing crude oil supply in the United States.”
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BLS: U.S. hires reach 6.5M in May

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. hires increased by 2.5 million in May to 6.5 million, marking “the largest monthly increase of hires since the series began.”
“Hires increased in a number of industries, with the greatest rise in accommodation and food services (+763,000), followed by health care and social assistance (+479,000), and construction (+427,000),” the BLS reported.
Meanwhile, quits increased for several industries, including durable goods manufacturing, which saw an increase of 38,000 quits.