AS per OECD has just realised data and analysis on global Foreign Direct Investment for 2016. It says that global FDI flows decreased by 7% to USD 1613 billion in comparison to 2015, above levels recorded between 2009 and 2014 and comparable to 2008. However, they remained below their pre-crisis peak, representing 2.2% of global GDP compared to 3.6% in 2007. The United Kingdom recorded the highest level of FDI inflows since 2005 (USD 254 billion), largely due to Anheuser-Busch InBev acquiring SABMiller in the last quarter of the year.

FDI inflows to G20 countries increased by 21%. Inflows to OECD G20 countries increased by 48%, but inflows to non-OECD G20 countries fell 21%, largely due to a decline in FDI flows to China. China became a net outward direct investor for the first time in 2016.

The United States continued to receive large inflows in 2016 with financial and corporate restructuring still playing a role, although reduced compared to 2014 and 2015. These gains were offset by decreases in FDI flows to Hong-Kong (China), Ireland and Switzerland, down from record levels in 2015, and declines in FDI flows to China for the third consecutive year.