BRUSSELS, Belgium / EuroWire.IO / – Foreign direct investment (FDI) stocks held in non-EU countries by investors resident in the European Union fell by 2.3% in 2025, according to Eurostat. Net outward stocks amounted to €9,479 billion at the end of the year, down from €9,701 billion in 2024. The EU statistical office published the figures on November 5. The data cover accumulated investment positions rather than annual flows.
Investment stocks held by non-EU residents in the EU also fell, by 2.8% to €6,988 billion, from €7,186 billion a year earlier. FDI stocks held by the rest of the world in the EU have declined every year since 2022. In that year they reached €7,878 billion, their highest level since 2013. The outward position fell by about €222 billion in 2025, while the inward position dropped by around €198 billion.
Special Purpose Entities continued to play a significant role in EU foreign investment. These entities, often set up by multinational groups for financing or holding purposes, accounted for 26.2% of total EU FDI stocks held abroad at the end of 2025. They also made up 33.3% of the FDI stocks held by the rest of the world in the EU. The EU’s outward stock exceeded inward holdings by about €2,491 billion.
United States remains top destination
The United States absorbed 29.4% of the EU’s FDI stocks in the rest of the world, worth €2,791 billion. The United Kingdom followed with €1,877 billion, or 19.8%, ahead of Switzerland with €812 billion, or 8.6%. Brazil accounted for €310 billion, or 3.3%, and Canada for €246 billion, or 2.6%. Together, the top three destinations held more than half of all EU outward stocks. Brazil was the largest destination outside Europe and North America.
The Cayman Islands and Mexico each accounted for 2.4% of the EU’s FDI stocks outside the bloc. China, excluding Hong Kong, and Singapore each held 2.3%, while Bermuda accounted for 2.0%. Several of the leading destinations, including Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, are offshore financial centres. The EU recorded a current account surplus of €113.4 billion in the first quarter of 2026, Eurostat data showed earlier.
US investors hold largest share in EU
In the opposite direction, the United States accounted for most of the FDI stocks held by the rest of the world in the EU, with €2,075 billion, or 29.7%. The United Kingdom followed with €1,262 billion, or 18.1%, ahead of Switzerland with €602 billion, or 8.6%. The Cayman Islands held €323 billion, or 4.6%, and Japan €249 billion, or 3.6%. Together, investors from the United States, the United Kingdom and Switzerland held more than half of all foreign FDI stocks in the EU.
Among other countries, investors from Singapore held 3.5% of FDI stocks in the EU, Canada 3.2% and Bermuda 2.8%. Gibraltar and Jersey each accounted for 2.1%. Gulf investors have also announced new commitments, including a €40 billion UAE investment plan for Germany. The United States was both the largest destination for EU investment and the largest source of foreign investment in the EU. Eurostat compiles the figures from balance of payments data reported by member states.