According to greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets, there have been 244 Chinese FDI projects recorded between January and October 2012, a significant decline from the same period in 2011, when there were 349 projects. This means that, unless there is a substantial uptick in outward investment in the final two months of the year, 2012 will be China's worst year for outbound FDI since 2008, when 282 projects were recorded.

One possible reason for the decline is the crisis in Europe. Historically, Germany has been the main destination for Chinese FDI, accounting for 12% of all outgoing projects between January 2003 and October 2012. In 2011, there were 80 Chinese investments in Germany, while in 2012 so far there has been just 11 such investments. Investment in Hong Kong has increased in 2012, however, with twice the number of Chinese FDI projects recorded in the city-state compared to 2011. Chinese FDI into the UK and the US has remained relatively stable compared to the previous year.