Global trade flows are showing signs of recovery after a historic drop driven by the coronavirus pandemic. A measure of goods moving across borders fell 12.5% in the three months ending in June from the first quarter, the WSJ’s Paul Hannon reports, the largest drop in records dating back to 2000 and a stark sign of the economic impact of world-wide lockdowns. Signs are emerging of a rebound, however, with with container shipping figures already pushing into positive territory. Global container traffic figures compiled by Germany’s Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics recorded a sharp rise in July, to a level not far below that seen a year earlier. Capacity for air and ocean transport remains a concern for many shippers, however. Data and booking platform Xeneta estimates that seagoing capacity is still 10% down on pre-pandemic levels, reflecting still-weak demand.

Manufacturers of aluminum cans can’t speed up their factory lines fast enough. Demand for cans is booming during the coronavirus pandemic, the WSJ’s Saabira Chaudhuri reports, accelerating a shift away from glass and plastic bottles as consumers stock up their food pantries with shelf-stable goods. U.S. retail sales of aluminum drink cans rocketed nearly 24% by volume in March, and one manufacturer says demand “is just kind of crazy.” 

Best Buy is struggling to match its supply chain to growing market demand. The electronics retailer’s sales rose 4% in the quarter ending Aug. 1, boosted by a tripling of online sales, the WSJ’s Dave Sebastian reports. But Best Buy says shortages also crimped its sales gains as shoppers found high-demand products including consumer electronics and appliances in short supply. The company is one of many retailers reporting strained supply chains as consumers shift their shopping patterns under pandemic-driven lockdowns. Best Buy’s domestic online revenue reached over half of all revenue last quarter and grew strongly even after stores opened during the quarter. Since both brick-and-mortar and digital have proven to be crucial for Best Buy, the retailer will start including its stores in online fulfillment through a “ship from store hub” model it will start testing next month, with same-day and next-day delivery part of the mix.

Hurricane Laura headed toward landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast as a category 1 hurricane. (WSJ)

A measure of U.S. consumer confidence fell this month to the lowest level in six years. (MarketWatch)

Israeli container line ZIM Integrated Shipping is looking at a possible public share listing in London. (Dow Jones Newswires)

General Motors is tapping salaried workers for production lines at a pickup-truck factory as it struggles with staffing the plant, (WSJ)

American Airlines will cut 19,000 jobs by Oct. 1, when federal coronavirus aid runs out. (WSJ)

Alibaba-affiliated payments firm Ant Group made $3 billion in the first half of the year as it prepares for an initial public offering. (WSJ)

The Treasury Department says Vietnam depressed its currency in 2019, opening the door to tariffs on tires from Vietnam. (WSJ)

Apparel retailer J. Crew Group won approval to leave bankruptcy with a deal that hands ownership to a group of its lenders led by a hedge fund. (WSJ)

Houston-based TNT Crane & Rigging filed for bankruptcy protection with a plan to have top lenders take over the business. (WSJ)

An analyst report says Nike is closing nine wholesale accounts as it moves more toward direct-to-consumer sales. (Footwear News)

Honda Motor is shifting some of its U.K. auto production to Japan. (Nikkei Asian Review)

The Ontario and Canadian federal government will support a plan by 3M to boost production of N95 medical masks for the country. (CBC)

Amazon plans to launch a separate platform for luxury brands in September. (WWD)

Amazon opened a 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center southwest of Chicago. (WLS)

Demand for international transport of refined oil products fell 20% in the first half of the year. (Lloyd’s List)

Salta Properties and Australia’s Victoria government will jointly develop the country’s largest intermodal terminal outside Melbourne. (Australasian Transport News)

HMM and shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries are testing the use of biofuels on one of the South Korean shipping line’s vessels. (ShippingWatch)

U.S. shippers are paying for empty trucks to head into Mexico for goods because of the lack of southbound demand. (The Loadstar)

Union Pacific is extending its surcharges​ on West Coast freight rail shipments to Seattle. (Journal of Commerce)

KIND Healthy Snacks says it will only buy almonds from bee-friendly farms starting in 2025. (The Hill)

Paul Page is editor of WSJ Logistics Report. Write to him at paul.page@wsj.com.

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @jensmithWSJ, @CostasParis. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.