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

At just over €100 billion, foreign direct investment continued to expand sharply in 2019, even though it was clearly down on the previous year’s figure (€148 billion).

Stock data

Primary and secondary domestic direct investment abroad totalled €1,277 billion at the end of 2018, up €70 billion on the year.

Foreign affiliates statistics (FATS)

The number of foreign affiliates with German investors increased once again in 2017. The annual turnover generated in these affiliates rose by €37 billion to just under €2.4 trillion.