China 2012 ODI hits record high

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China's outbound direct investment reached a record high of $87.8 billion in 2012, making it the world's third-largest outward investor during the period, new government data show.

In breakdown, financial ODI hit $10.07 billion last year, while the country's overseas investments in non-financial sectors surged 13.3 percent to $77.73 billion, according to a report jointly released on Monday by China's Ministry of Commerce, National Bureau of Statistics and State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

By the end of 2012, the accumulated ODI that Chinese companies had invested stood at $531.94 billion, ranking China the 13th in the world. Chinese investors established about 22,000 overseas enterprises in 179 countries and regions.

"About 79.2 percent of them have made profits or maintained a balance," said Zhou Zhencheng, commercial counselor for the MOC's Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation.

He forecast that China's ODI is likely to grow 15 percent this year.

Despite the complicated economic situation, Chinese investors showed strong enthusiasm for outbound mergers and acquisitions (M&A) last year. In 2012, Chinese companies engaged in 457 M&A deals, with the total value reaching a record high of $43.4 billion.

China started to release official annual ODI data in 2003. The country's ODI flows have maintained steady growth in 10 consecutive years, with an average annual growth rate as high as 41.6 percent between 2002 and 2012.

• China's outbound investment accelerates in 2012
• China sees uptick in ODI to US and Europe
• China's non-financial ODI grows at slower pace
• Breaking down China's overseas investment, Part II: A source of warmth amid economic chill
• Chinese firms' push into global market to hit record
• Investment on target to balance out 'in 5 years'
• China's ODI surges 25.8% in first 10 months
• China's non-financial ODI slows in Jan-Aug

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