According to data from greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets, the number of global FDI projects in the first six months of 2012 was down by 23% compared to the same period in 2011. Asia-Pacific remained the most attractive region accounting for 32% of all global FDI projects in this period. But all regions suffered declines in FDI project numbers.

Latin America and the Caribbean saw a 30% decline in FDI project numbers compared to the first six months of 2011, the worst decline of any region. This was followed by the Middle East with a 28% decline and western Europe with a 27% decline. Africa witnessed the smallest decline of 10%.

Australia, Japan and Poland were the only countries in the top 40 destination countries to record increases in FDI project numbers in the first half of 2012, compared to the same period in 2011, with growth of 3%, 3% and 1%, respectively. The US remained the top country for FDI projects, accounting for more than 10% of global FDI projects.

The top five destination countries during the first half of 2012 were the US, China, the UK, India and Brazil. FDI projects into Brazil and China fell by more than one-quarter in this period, compared to the same time in 2011. The UK had the smallest decline in FDI project number in the top five, with a 7% decline in projects.