During the May Day holiday transport period, China's national railway passenger volume exceeded 100 million. Automakers have released their April sales figures, with many achieving record-high sales or deliveries. Iran has initiated a new management mechanism for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, while former US President Trump announced a suspension of the "Freedom Plan" operation.
Data from the Ministry of Transport indicates that from May 1st to May 5th, the total volume of cross-regional passenger movement in society reached 1.525103 billion person-times, averaging 30.5021 million person-times per day. This represents a 4% increase compared to the same period in 2025. According to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., on May 4th, the national railway system transported 20.383 million passengers. Since the commencement of the May Day holiday transport period on April 29th, the cumulative number of railway passengers has reached 117 million, with transport operations remaining safe and orderly. On May 5th, return passenger flow continued to rise, with an estimated 23 million passengers expected to be transported by rail nationwide.
On May 5th, the China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing released the April China Bulk Price Index. The index stood at 132.1 points in April, reflecting a month-on-month increase of 1.7%, though the growth rate narrowed by 2.3 percentage points compared to the previous month. Year-on-year, the index rose by 20.2%.
The Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government released preliminary estimates for the Gross Domestic Product for the first quarter of 2026. According to the preliminary figures, GDP increased by 5.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, marking the highest quarterly growth rate in nearly five years. The growth rate in the fourth quarter of 2025 was 4.0%.
The 139th Canton Fair concluded on May 5th. As of May 4th, the fair had attracted 314,000 overseas buyers from 220 countries and regions, an increase of 1.1% compared to the 138th session. Additionally, 407 leading procurement enterprises and 154 overseas industrial and commercial organizations attended the event in groups.
According to data from online ticketing platforms, as of 7:53 PM on May 5th, the total box office revenue for the 2026 May Day holiday period, including pre-sales, exceeded 750 million yuan, surpassing the total box office of 747 million yuan from the previous year's holiday period.
On May 5th, A-share automakers including BYD, Seres Group, and BAIC BluePark released their production and sales data for April 2026. BYD reported vehicle sales of 321,100 units for April, compared to 380,100 units in the same month last year. Seres Group announced April vehicle sales of 35,461 units, including 33,132 new energy vehicles, representing a year-on-year increase of 5.22%. BAIC BluePark reported April sales of 17,658 units, a significant year-on-year surge of 70.99%. In April, automakers such as Leapmotor and Zeekr achieved record-high monthly sales or deliveries. Leapmotor delivered 71,387 vehicles across its lineup in April, a 73.9% year-on-year increase, setting a new monthly delivery record. Zeekr delivered 31,787 vehicles in April, a 132% year-on-year increase, also a historical high. Companies like Xiaomi and NIO also reported year-on-year sales increases in April. Among other new energy vehicle brands, Li Auto delivered 34,085 new vehicles in April, while XPeng delivered 31,011 new vehicles. Voyah delivered 15,146 vehicles, up 51% year-on-year; IM Motors sold 10,016 vehicles, with January to April sales rising 130% year-on-year.
Dongyang Guang announced on May 5th that its controlling subsidiary, Dongguan Dongyang Guang YUN Zhisuan Technology Co., Ltd., recently signed a "Computing Power Service Procurement Framework Contract" with a Company A. The total estimated contract value ranges from 16 billion to 19 billion yuan, and the contract term is 60 months following the acceptance of orders as stipulated.
On the evening of May 5th, Eastern Time, former US President Donald Trump stated on social media that the "Freedom Plan," aimed at facilitating vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, would be suspended in the short term.
According to a report from Iran's Press TV on May 5th, Iran has initiated a new maritime transit management mechanism to implement unified management over vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The report stated that under the new mechanism, all ships planning to transit the strait will receive transit rules and related regulations via an official email. Sources indicated that vessels must adjust their navigation operations according to this framework and obtain transit permits before passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The report confirmed that this new management mechanism is currently in effect.
During a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Zaidion on May 5th, Iranian President Pezeshkian stated that Iran remains willing to engage in dialogue within the framework of international law but will not accept any external coercion. He noted that rational dialogue is still possible, but negotiations pursued through threats and pressure will not yield results.
Citing Israeli sources, CNN reported on May 5th that as tensions escalate in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel is coordinating with the United States and preparing for a potential new round of strikes against Iran.
According to US media reports on May 4th, Iraq is offering substantial discounts to buyers of its crude oil under long-term contracts for shipments loaded this month, on the condition that the chartered tankers must transit the Strait of Hormuz and proceed into the deep Persian Gulf to collect the cargo.
Data released by the US Commerce Department on May 5th showed that the US trade deficit in goods and services was $60.3 billion in March, an increase of $2.5 billion from the previous month, representing a rise of approximately 4.4%. This marks the second consecutive month of increase, driven by higher goods imports.
The Reserve Bank of Australia announced on May 5th an interest rate hike of 25 basis points. This is the third rate increase this year, following hikes of 25 basis points each in February and March. The RBA's benchmark interest rate has now risen to 4.35%.
Statistics Indonesia announced data on May 5th showing that Indonesia's Gross Domestic Product grew by 5.61% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. This figure is higher than the 5.39% growth recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025 and significantly higher than the 4.87% growth seen in the same period last year. Against a complex external backdrop, the Indonesian economy has demonstrated strong resilience, with expanding domestic demand and increased government expenditure being the primary drivers.
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