Global FDI landscape shifts as data centres take the lead
Data centres emerged as the leading destination for global FDI in 2025, driven by surging demand for AI and cloud infrastructure, while investment in renewables experienced a marked decline
The latest preliminary figures from fDi Markets reveal that global greenfield foreign direct investment reached approximately US$1.29 trillion in 2025, making it the fifth-highest annual total on record. A surge in capital-intensive projects reflected investors’ focus on digital infrastructure and the energy transition, with data centres leading this shift.
Data centres emerged as the top FDI recipient sector for the first time, with a record US$320 billion in announced investments, significantly above the previous year’s total. This rapid growth, largely driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand, accounted for nearly half of all major FDI projects worth US$1 billion or more.
The semiconductor industry also had a strong year as part of the broader digital investment trend, with more than US$138 billion pledged, including significant expansions by Taiwanese firms in the United States. Meanwhile, the renewable energy sector, long a top recipient of FDI, saw capital commitments fall by roughly 26 per cent, reaching levels last seen in 2021.
Other sectors saw mixed fortunes, such as real estate that attracted a decade-high of US$102.8 billion, and chemicals returned to the top ten, while automotive and electronic components experienced reduced foreign investment. The overall picture underscores a shift in global investment priorities towards technology and infrastructure. Ultimately, 2025 marks a turning point in which data infrastructure defines global FDI priorities.
