WASHINGTON — Foreign direct investment in the United States surged in 2025, with expenditures by foreign investors to acquire, establish or expand U.S. businesses reaching $232.2 billion, according to preliminary data released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
The figure represents a 49.5 percent increase from $155.4 billion in 2024, the BEA reported on June 10. Acquisitions of existing U.S. businesses accounted for the vast majority of the total, at $218.4 billion, while expenditures to establish new businesses totaled $4.6 billion and expansions of existing foreign-owned operations came to $9.2 billion.
Planned total expenditures, including future outlays, reached $284.5 billion for the year. The data reflect new foreign direct investment activity across various industries and states, though detailed breakdowns by sector were not immediately specified in the preliminary release.
The increase aligns with a broader global rebound in foreign direct investment flows. UN Trade and Development reported that global FDI rose 14 percent in 2025 to an estimated $1.6 trillion, with developed economies, including the United States, seeing particularly strong gains.
Economists and officials have pointed to factors such as demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, semiconductor projects and other high-tech sectors as drivers of inbound investment. The United States remained one of the top destinations for FDI worldwide alongside China and Brazil, according to multiple reports.
The BEA data come amid ongoing monitoring of international capital flows. Cumulative foreign direct investment position in the United States stood at approximately $5.7 trillion at the end of 2024, before the latest annual inflows.
A Commerce Department spokesperson said the figures underscore the attractiveness of the U.S. market. “These investments support jobs and innovation across the country,” the spokesperson noted in comments related to the release.
Analysts cautioned that full-year data remain preliminary and subject to revision. Quarterly figures showed fluctuations, with strong equity inflows in the third quarter followed by moderation later in the year.
As of Saturday, the BEA had not released comprehensive industry or country-of-origin details for the full year. Further analysis is expected in coming months as officials complete their review of the 2025 statistics. The data will be incorporated into broader economic assessments of U.S. international investment trends.
