China’s global outbound direct investment surged to a seven-year high in 2025 as Chinese firms pivoted their capital towards strategic raw materials and data centres, according to a report by Rhodium Group released on Wednesday.
The latest China Cross-Border Monitor report found that Chinese firms announced US$124 billion of new outbound direct investment last year, an 18 per cent jump from 2024 and the highest level recorded since 2018.
Completed deals also saw a robust 14 per cent increase to US$73 billion, signalling a steady recovery from pandemic-era lows.
Chinese firms’ newly announced investment in offshore manufacturing facilities fell across all regions except for North Africa last year, with a particularly significant drop in Central and Eastern Europe, the report said.