China is on a worldwide hunt to secure lithium supplies to bolster its dominant position in refining the metal. The search is leading the country to invest billions in stakes in mines throughout the developing world, including nations with histories of political instability, local resistance and resource nationalism. The WSJ’s Sha Hua and Alexandra Wexler write the strategy is risky, and it’s already run up against efforts by several countries to hold onto their lithium supplies. The efforts are part of a broader rush by countries with big automotive manufacturing industries to ensure flows of minerals crucial to electric-vehicle batteries. China’s drive is fueled by concerns that its booming EV sector could struggle to get access to supplies as tensions with the U.S. and its allies rise. If China succeeds, it could secure access to one-third of the world’s lithium-mine production capacity needed by 2025.

• China’s 58% growth in automotive exports last quarter pushed it past Japan as the world’s largest car exporter. (WSJ)
• The U.S. has signed agreements to expand access to lithium, nickel and other crucial minerals as part of thg global rush to secure supplies. (New York Times)
• Renault is shifting its automotive exports from South Korea to containers to avoid the high costs of car carriers. (Splash 247)

U.S. regulators are investigating potential collusion among baby-formula makers on bidding for lucrative state contracts. The Federal Trade Commission probe is focused on supply agreements for the Women, Infants and Children aid program, the WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte, Jesse Newman and Kristina Peterson report, and whether coordination by Abbott Laboratories and other companies affected sales across the sector more broadly. The probe follows a nationwide formula shortage last year that left parents struggling to find the products and sent U.S. retailers to overseas suppliers to fill depleted stocks. The new investigation is among several of Abbott launched by federal agencies following the closure of a manufacturing plant last year that contributed to the shortage. Experts say the infant-formula market remains vulnerable to shocks in part because WIC and the larger formula market are dominated by a few companies and operated through fragile just-in-time supply chains.

The global economy is getting a boost from market forces that a year ago seemed unthinkable. Natural-gas prices that skyrocketed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are now in full retreat around the world, the WSJ’s Joe Wallace and Kim Mackrael report, leading energy-intensive businesses to restart operations, consumers to enjoy lower fuel bills and fears of winter shortages eased. The turnaround is in part the result of a rapid pivot in global natural-gas supply chains, with U.S. suppliers pumping more product toward ships heading across the Atlantic. Europe last year rushed to build infrastructure to handle the inbound shipments, upending traditional gas-market operations. That is boosting industrial activity. France-based Aluminium Dunkerque began restarting idled smelting capacity in January and expects to return to full production this month. Still, some companies remain wary, saying futures prices suggest natural gas will cost about 80% more this winter than it does now.

• The Energy Information Administration says increasing U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas through 2050 will raise domestic natural gas prices. (Financial Post)
• France’s TotalEnergies is moving closer to resuming operations at its big Mozambique LNG project. (Reuters)

Food prices in Europe have soared 19.3% in the past year even as falling energy costs are bringing down broader inflation measures. (WSJ)

The White House says the president will veto a measure approved by lawmakers largely along party lines to overturn tougher federal emissions restrictions on heavy-duty trucks. (Detroit News)

A House panel approved a grant program to fund new truck parking. (Commercial Carrier Journal)

Nike CEO John Donahoe says a Western decoupling from China would be “disastrous” for global trade. (CNBC)

China’s Lenovo cut 5% of its global workforce amid a deep slump in PC demand. (Nikkei Asia)

Container lines face new political hurdles in renewing the sector’s exemption from some European antitrust rules. (Lloyd’s List)

China’s Yangshan Port, south of Shanghai, topped a list of port efficiency measures developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market Intelligence. (Container News)

The Port of Oakland will develop maritime infrastructure at its  Howard Terminal now that the Oakland A’s baseball team is moving. (Journal of Commerce)

Navios Maritime Holdings swung to a $14.5 million profit in the first quarter as logistics revenue rose more than 10%. (TradeWinds)

Mumbai-based digital forwarder Freightwalla ceased operations. (The Loadstar)

The new owners of Scan Global Logistics named former A.P. Moller-Maersk CEO Nils Smedegaard Andersen chairman of the Danish forwarder’s board. (ShippingWatch)

Retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods plans to open nine House of Sport concept stores in the U.S. this year. (Retail Dive)

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

Follow the WSJ Logistics Report team: @PaulPage, @bylizyoung and @pdberger. Follow the WSJ Logistics Report on Twitter at @WSJLogistics.