Global Investments Overview and Outlook

SteelOrbis’ “Global investments overview and outlook” analytical report covers investments across the world’s major economies, regions and sectors.

Subscribe to SteelOrbis’ “Global investments overview and outlook” report and gain access to an in-depth analytical study of international capital flows, greenfield project activity, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, and infrastructure financing trends. This report enables you to navigate a rapidly shifting investment landscape, providing essential intelligence for strategic planning, market entry decisions and competitive positioning.

Greenfield project numbers fell in 2025, international project finance declined for the fourth consecutive year, and three-quarters of least developed countries saw stagnant or declining inflows. Data centres and AI infrastructure now account for one-fifth of all global greenfield project values, reshaping the investment map entirely. Against this backdrop of concentration, fragmentation and geopolitical uncertainty, companies and investors need robust, forward-looking analysis to make confident decisions. The data and forecasts in this report are an indispensable tool for your operational and strategic planning.

Geographical coverage

The report provides extensive global geographical coverage, including in-depth analysis of the following regions and economies: Europe (EU member states, with dedicated focus on France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland and the United Kingdom), the Middle East and GCC (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Iraq), China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the broader ASEAN bloc), the United States, Turkey, and key developing and emerging market economies across Latin America and Africa.

What will you find in the report?

• Global FDI overview, including aggregate flow analysis and key drivers
• Geographical investment breakdown by region and country, with dedicated chapters on Europe, the Middle East and GCC, China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia, the United States and Turkey
• Sectoral investment analysis, including extractive industries, critical minerals, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing
• Greenfield project announcements and trends, including the largest projects by value and the role of AI, semiconductor and data centre investments
• International project finance trends across infrastructure and clean energy sectors
• Cross-border merger and acquisition (M&A) activity by sector, income group and geography
• Decarbonization investment routes in steelmaking and the trajectory of embedded emissions
• FDI screening developments: the rise of national security review mechanisms across 100+ countries, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), EU mandatory screening, and transactional risk implications
• Impacts of tariff volatility and trade fragmentation on investment flows, including the effects of the US ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs and friend-shoring strategies
• EU’s FDI reform, strategic autonomy and investment in critical sectors
• Middle East and GCC - fiscal and financial outlook, including sovereign wealth fund activity
• China’s evolving FDI landscape: sectoral composition, inflows by destination and policy environment
• India’s FDI growth by sector and source country, with strategic priorities for the coming year
• Japan’s fiscal stimulus, strategic industrial policy and foreign investment opportunities
• Southeast Asia’s clean energy investments and green economy transition
• Turkey’s FDI performance, real estate market, data centre expansion and tourism growth
• Key FDI indicators and prospects, including a global outlook by destination and investment decision framework
• Conclusions and strategic highlights for investors, corporates and policymakers