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US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Trends Report: January-March 2026

July 22, 2026 Alexandra Tranmer, CEcD | Dawn Hammond

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a critical indicator of a region’s economic vitality and global competitiveness.

For economic development organizations (EDOs) of all sizes, understanding where international capital is flowing and what is driving that movement is essential for:

  • Shaping effective business attraction strategies
  • Targeting the right industries
  • Supporting local suppliers of foreign companies

Tracking FDI data allows EDOs to identify their region’s role in the global economy and uncover opportunities to attract investment in strategic sectors. It can also help with business retention and expansion programs by revealing growing trends or specific needs of foreign companies.

At Camoin Associates, we help economic development leaders uncover and interpret FDI data relevant to their geography and goals. We have worked with states, regions, and cities to analyze global investment trends, among other economic indicators, to inform industry strategy and site readiness efforts.

This trends report provides a high-level snapshot of FDI investment trends in the US from January through March 2026. Highlights include:

  • 485 FDI projects were announced in the US between January and March 2026, representing a 17% year-over-year decline.
  • There was $73.2 billion in total capital investment in the same time period, a 62% drop from last year. The majority of this year-over-year change can be attributed to March 2025, which alone saw $146.3 billion in investment.
  • The Asia-Pacific region was the top contributor to US FDI, investing approximately $47.2 billion. Western Europe was next largest contributor at around $21.1 billion.
  • Ohio attracted the most capital investment with $34.1 billion across 17 projects. Missouri followed with $6.6 billion and 2 projects.
  • The sector that attracted the greatest amount of investment was real estate, garnering $5.2 billion in investment over 84 projects. Renewable energy and Food and beverages followed, with $5.1 billion in investment across 22 projects and $1.8 billion across 22 projects, respectively.

If you want to translate labor market and investment data into actionable insights to help your community stand out in an increasingly competitive field, Camoin Associates can help. Contact our Director of Industry and Workforce, Alex Tranmer, CEcD, to learn more at alexandra@camoinassociates.com. US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Trends Report: January-March 2026. Camoin Associates logo. Section 1: Summary. 485 total US FDI projects (-17% year over year). US share of global FDI projects: 15.5%. 48,002 total estimated US jobs created (-36% year over year). 368 companies invested in the US. Total estimated capital investment in the US: $73.2 billion USD (-62% year over year). Section 2: Who is Making the Investments? World Regions Contributing to US FDI, January-March 2026. North America: 36 projects, $3.4 billion USD total capital investment, 4,381 jobs. Western Europe: 271 projects, $121.1 billion USD total capital investment, 21,846 jobs. Eastern Europe: 11 projects, $0.2 million USD total capital investment, 459 jobs. Asia-Pacific: 129 projects, $47.2 billion USD total capital investment, 18,493 jobs. Latin America and Caribbean: 19 projects, $0.5 billion USD total capital investment, 1,568 jobs. Africa: 2 projects, $0.1 billion USD total capital investment, 185 jobs. Middle East: 17 projects, $0.7 billion USD total capital investment, 1,070 jobs. Top 5 Countries Investing in the US, January-March 2026: 1. Japan with $42.4 billion invested across 53 projects. 2. Netherlands with $7.2 billion invested across 5 projects. 3. France with $4.5 billion invested across 32 projects. 4. Canada with $3.4 billion invested across 36 projects. 5. United Kingdom with $2.4 billion invested across 60 projects. Section 3: Who is Receiving the Investments? Top 5 US States Receiving Foreign Investments, January-March 2026: 1. Ohio with $34.1 billion invested across 17 projects. 2. Missouri with $6.6 billion invested across 2 projects. 3. Texas with $3.9 billion invested across 59 projects. 4. Louisiana with $3.5 billion invested across 3 projects. 5. California with $2.6 billion invested across 42 projects. Top 5 US Sectors Receiving Foreign Investments, January-March 2026: 1. Real Estate with $5.2 billion invested across 84 projects. 2. Renewable Energy with $5.1 billion invested across 22 projects. 3. Food and Beverages with $1.8 billion invested across 22 projects. 4. Automotive Components with $1.5 billion invested across 20 projects. 5. Metals with $1.4 billion invested across 23 projects. Data Source: fDi Markets, from the Financial Times Ltd. Copyright 2026 Camoin Associates

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This article and the infographic are updated quarterly with the latest US FDI trends. Subscribe to our Economic Development Navigator newsletter to get each new edition delivered directly to your inbox.

Previous US FDI Trend Reports:

October-December 2025 Trends Report (1.3 MB PDF)

June-September 2025 Trends Report (1.3 MB PDF)

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