China foreign direct investment falls 4.3% in first nine months

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in China reached 548.8 billion yuan ($82.1 billion) during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 4.3% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

While overall investment declined, high-tech sectors saw significant growth. Investments in high-tech industries rose by 33.8% year-on-year to 228.5 billion yuan, accounting for 41.6% of total FDI. Specific growth was noted in the commercialization of scientific and technological innovations (+76.8%), R&D and design services (+59.2%), and electronic and communication equipment manufacturing (+32.8%).

Sectoral breakdowns showed 131.9 billion yuan invested in manufacturing and 404.8 billion yuan in the services sector. Despite the overall decline, the number of newly established foreign-invested companies increased by 2.3% to 47,800. The ongoing decline in FDI follows previous years of contraction, influenced by geopolitical competition with the United States, technology restrictions, and tariff policy uncertainties.