Direct investments

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is defined as cross-border investment in enterprises with the objective of establishing a lasting influence over business activities.

The statistics on the structure and activity of foreign affiliates (foreign affiliates statistics – FATS) provide key data on foreign-controlled enterprises.

Transaction values

Between 2014 and 2018, over 75% of German foreign direct investment was directed towards just nine countries.

Stock data

Germany’s outward FDI stocks grew at a significantly slower rate in 2017 than in 2016. As before, most of Germany’s FDI flows to countries outside the European Union.

Structure and activity of foreign affiliates (FATS)

The number of foreign affiliates in which German investors have invested has climbed steadily over the past few years, rising to just over 29,000 in 2016.