Charts of the Day: China’s Foreign Investment Inflows Slump to 30-Year Low

Net foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Chinese mainland recovered in the fourth quarter of 2023 after dropping into negative territory for the first time on record in the previous three months, official data show.

Net FDI as measured through China’s capital and financial accounts recorded a net inflow of $17.5 billion in the last three months of the year, according to preliminary balance of payments data published by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) on Sunday. The data measure mainly monetary flows into and out of the mainland connected to foreign-owned entities and used for investment in assets such as manufacturing and real estate.