Foreign direct investment into China fell by 4.3% year-on-year to CNY 548.8 billion or USD 82.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, compared to a 5.3% drop in the first eight months of 2026. Outbound non-financial direct investment was USD 101 billion. China faced headwinds in attracting foreign capital, including worsening geopolitical conflicts, weak growth momentum and a rise in protectionist and unilateral measures, according to China's vice commerce ministry. Meanwhile, foreign investment in high-tech industries jumped 33.8% in the January-September period, led by development and design services. source: Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China

Foreign Direct Investment YoY in China decreased by 4.30 percent in September from -5.30 percent in August of 2026. Foreign Direct Investment YoY in China averaged 4.78 percent from 2008 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 109.78 percent in January of 2008 and a record low of -32.60 percent in January of 2009. This page includes a chart with historical data for China Foreign Direct Investment YoY. China Foreign Direct Investment YoY - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on November of 2026.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-09-18 09:00 AM
FDI (YTD) YoY
Aug -5.3% -6.2% -5.8%
2026-10-22 08:30 AM
FDI (YTD) YoY
Sept -4.3% -5.3% -4.8%
2026-11-16 09:00 AM
FDI (YTD) YoY
Oct -4.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Passanger Car Exports 1039865.00 914617.00 Sep 2026
Balance of Trade 133.53 119.09 USD Billion Sep 2026
Capital Flows -195.10 -1881.08 USD Hundred Million Jun 2026
Crude Oil Production 4421.00 4389.00 BBL/D/1K Jun 2026
Current Account 1937.00 1843.00 USD Hundred Million Jun 2026
Current Account Goods 2789.00 2474.77 USD Hundred Million Jun 2026
Current Account Services -524.00 -595.55 USD Hundred Million Jun 2026
Current Account to GDP 3.70 2.20 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Electric Car Exports 365489.00 284622.00 Units Sep 2026
Exports 447.18 401.44 USD Billion Sep 2026
Exports by Category
Exports by Country
Exports YoY 36.30 25.00 percent Sep 2026
External Debt 23288.00 24198.00 USD Hundred Million Dec 2025
Foreign Direct Investment 822.00 716.60 USD Hundred Million Sep 2026
Foreign Direct Investment YoY -4.30 -5.30 percent Sep 2026
Gold Reserves 2346.43 2313.46 Tonnes Jun 2026
Imports 313.65 282.36 USD Billion Sep 2026
Imports by Category
Imports by Country
Imports YoY 31.00 28.20 percent Sep 2026
Terms of Trade 91.60 92.40 points Aug 2026
Terrorism Index 1.31 1.86 Points Dec 2025
Tourist Arrivals 3517.00 2694.00 Tens of Thousands Dec 2025
Weapons Sales 880.00 1294.00 SIPRI TIV Million Dec 2025


China Foreign Direct Investment YoY
In China, Foreign Direct Investment refers to foreign capital actually utilized, which is to the amount which has been actually used according to the agreements and contracts, including cash, materials and invisible capital such as labor service and technology which both parties agree to take as an investment.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-4.30 -5.30 109.78 -32.60 2008 - 2026 percent Monthly
NSA; YTD

News Stream
China FDI Continues to Fall
Foreign direct investment into China fell by 4.3% year-on-year to CNY 548.8 billion or USD 82.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, compared to a 5.3% drop in the first eight months of 2026. Outbound non-financial direct investment was USD 101 billion. China faced headwinds in attracting foreign capital, including worsening geopolitical conflicts, weak growth momentum and a rise in protectionist and unilateral measures, according to China's vice commerce ministry. Meanwhile, foreign investment in high-tech industries jumped 33.8% in the January-September period, led by development and design services.
2026-10-22
China FDI Contracts Least in 3 Years
Foreign direct investment into China fell by 5% annually in the first half of 2026, easing from the 8.6% decline in the first five months of the year. Despite extending three-year streak of year-to-date declines in FDI, it was the smallest since little after the streak began in July of 2026. It prolonged the rebound from the record-slump of -31.5% in August of 2024, when risks of a deflationary spiral and the peak of low consumer spending dented foreign investment demand. Still, opaque balance sheets and risks that protectionist policies may curb manufacturing exports continued to weigh on the Chinese economy.
2026-07-23
FDI into China Drops 10.3% in January-April
Foreign direct investment inflows into China fell 10.3% year-on-year to CNY 287.7 billion in the first four months of 2026. Within the total, FDI in the manufacturing sector amounted to CNY 78.9 billion, while high-tech industries attracted CNY 166.3 billion, up 20.3% and accounting for 40.4% of total FDI. Meanwhile, the services sector received CNY 204.2 billion. Still, investment in R&D and design services, as well as in the manufacturing of computers and office equipment and electronic and communication equipment, increased by 108.4%, 22.9%, and 20.2%, respectively. During the period, 20,113 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China, representing a 6.8% year-on-year increase. By source, investment flows into China grew significantly from Luxembourg (+110.3%), Switzerland (+60.8%), France (+58.3%), and the US (+24.5%).
2026-05-25