The difficult economic climate is taking its toll on the manufacturing sector, with a drop in the level of FDI into the sector in the first six months of 2012. Data from greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets shows that 1363 projects were recorded in the first half of 2012, compared to 2205 in the same period of 2011.
In 2012, on average, $79.6m was invested and 286 jobs were created per project. This represents decreases in both indicators compared to the first six months of 2011, when an average of $108.5m was invested per project, with 342 jobs created.
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Asia-Pacific has remained the most popular destination for manufacturing FDI in 2012, with 413 projects recorded in the region. But the second most popular destination, North America, has narrowed the gap with the leader, recording 386 projects. 'Rest of Europe' is the third most popular destination with 189 projects, and with 144 projects each, western Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean are joint fourth.
Africa recorded 58 projects in the first half of 2012, half the number recorded in the same period of 2011. The Middle East has remained the least popular manufacturing location, with just 29 projects recorded between January and June 2012.