Brussels:Net foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks held by EU investors in non-EU countries fell by 2.3% in 2025, amounting to £9,479 billion, compared to £9,701 billion in 2024, as reported by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
According to Wam, FDI stocks held by non-EU residents in the EU also decreased, reaching £6,988 billion, a decline of 2.8% from £7,186 billion in 2024. This marks a continued downward trend since 2022 when the stocks were at £7,878 billion, the highest level since 2013.
Special Purpose Entities (SPEs) remained influential in FDI. By the end of 2025, they represented 26.2% of total EU FDI stocks abroad and 33.3% of FDI stocks held by the rest of the world within the EU.
The United States absorbed the largest share of EU FDI stocks at 29.4% (£2,791 billion). The United Kingdom followed with £1,877 billion (19.8%), then Switzerland with £812 billion (8.6%), Brazil with £310 billion (3.3%), and Canada with £246 billion (2.6%). The Cayman Islands and Mexico each accounted for 2.4% of EU's FDI stocks, followed by China (excluding Hong Kong) and Singapore at 2.3% each, and Bermuda at 2.0%.
Conversely, the United States was the leading holder of FDI stocks in the EU from the rest of the world, accounting for £2,075 billion (29.7%). The United Kingdom held £1,262 billion (18.1%), Switzerland £602 billion (8.6%), the Cayman Islands £323 billion (4.6%), and Japan £249 billion (3.6%). Additionally, investors from Singapore (3.5%), Canada (3.2%), Bermuda (2.8%), Gibraltar, and Jersey (both 2.1%) each held over 2% of FDI stocks in the EU.