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• Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 16% in 2017, to an estimated US$1.52 trillion, from a revised US$1.81 trillion in 2016 – a stark contrast to other macroeconomic variables, such as GDP and trade growth, which saw substantial improvements in 2017.
• A slump in FDI flows to developed countries (-27%) was the principal factor behind the global decline. A strong decrease in flows was reported in Europe (-27%) as well as in North America (-33%), mainly due to a return to prior levels of inflows in the United Kingdom and the United States after spikes in 2016. This decline was tempered by an 11% growth in flows to other developed economies, principally Australia.
• FDI to developing economies remained stable, at an estimated US$653 billion, 2% more than the previous year. Flows rose marginally in developing Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, and remained flat in Africa. Developing Asia regained its position as the largest FDI recipient region in the world, followed by the European Union and North America.
• FDI to the transition economies declined by 17% to an estimated US$55 billion, mainly due to a drop in the Russian Federation and lacklustre inflows across most of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
• After three years of growth, cross-border merger and acquisitions (M&As) declined in 2017. Their growth already slowed in 2016; in 2017, they contracted by 23%, to US$666 billion. However, this still represented the third highest level since 2007.
• Preliminary data on the value of announced greenfield FDI projects show a decline of 32% to US$571 billion (-17% in number of projects), their lowest level since 2003. If confirmed, the drop in greenfield project announcements would be a negative indicator for the longer term. Of particular concern is the near halving of the value of project announcements in developing economies, although the fall in project numbers was limited to 23%.
• Higher economic growth projections, trade volumes and commodity prices would normally point to a potential increase in global FDI in 2018. However, elevated geopolitical risks and policy uncertainty could have an impact on the scale and contours of any FDI recovery in 2018. In addition, tax reforms in the United States are likely to significantly affect investment decisions by United States MNEs, with consequences for global investment patterns.

James Zhan
Director, Investment and Enterprise
Lead, World Investment Report
UNCTAD
Palais des Nations, Geneva
Tel: +41 22 917 5797

http://unctad.org
http://worldinvestmentreport.org
http://unctad-worldinvestmentforum.org/
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