U.S. regulators are targeting the role of middlemen in the pharmaceutical sector in a new investigation of drug shortages. The Federal Trade Commission is exploring whether the brokers of purchases for hospitals, along with distributors, have misused market power to push down prices so much that some manufacturers can’t profit and have stopped production of some treatments. The WSJ’s Liz Essley Whyte reports the shortfalls of crucial drugs has been a growing problem in healthcare, and insufficient supplies of critical chemotherapies forced doctors to ration supplies last year. Three groups purchase drugs on behalf of most hospitals in the U.S., while the three leading wholesalers supply about 90% of drugs to hospitals and other buyers across the country. The Healthcare Distribution Alliance, which represents pharmaceutical distributors, says shortages have been caused in part because drugmakers have had trouble finding raw materials or face sharp spikes in demand.

A bad bet on commodity futures prices is sending the largest exporter of wood pellets in the U.S. into bankruptcy. Bethesda, Md.-based Enviva is preparing to file for chapter 11 protection within days even as it continues to negotiate with bondholders after missing a $24 million interest payment. The WSJ’s Alexander Gladstone and Jodi Xu Klein report Enviva fell into financial peril even as demand for the energy source remains high among European and Asian power plants burning wood instead of coal. The company stumbled badly when it tried to leverage its strong market position for even bigger profits. Its plan to buy pellets to resell them at a profit backfired when the value of the products tumbled well below what it had paid. The company has become a major force in export markets in recent years, and operates 10 plants across the South along with six marine terminals.

Eurozone industrial production rose unexpectedly in December at the strongest pace of the year. (WSJ)

Shell expects global demand for liquefied natural gas to grow by more than 50% by 2040. (WSJ)

Kraft Heinz’s revenue slid 7% last quarter as the food supplier’s sales volumes pulled back 4.4%. (WSJ)

German industrial giant Thyssenkrupp scaled back its full-year sales and earnings targets. (WSJ)

Walmart expects to substantially boost its annual sourcing of goods from India to about $10 billion by 2027. (Economic Times)

Chinese online marketplace Temu is scooping up manufacturers of cheap goods that rival Shein has dropped over standards violations. (Financial Times)

U.K. delivery drivers for food apps including Uber Eats and Deliveroo launched a Valentine’s Day strike over pay and working conditions. (BBC)

Star Bulk Carriers halted Suez Canal transits after two of its vessels were targeted by Houthi rebels. (ShippingWatch)

HMM’s fourth-quarter profit fell 90% to about $32 million. (Journal of Commerce)

Fourth-quarter profit at car carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen fell 45% to $134 million as Red Sea disruptions offset growing transports from China. (TradeWinds)

Containership owner Danaos is rapidly expanding its fleet of bulk vessels. (Splash 247)

Malaysian container terminal operator Westport Holdings is considering external strategic investors to help fund an $8.3 billion expansion. (Bloomberg)

An annual report listed Texas, Georgia and California as having the most road bottlenecks for freight in the U.S. (Commercial Carrier Journal)

Industrial parts supplier MRC Global is projecting flat to modestly lower sales​ after quarterly revenue tumbled 12%. (Industrial Distribution)

A study found purchasing managers had the highest average salaries among supply chain professionals. (Logistics Management)

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 X at @WSJLogistics.