2024–2025 China Enterprise Going Global Outlook: New Energy and Tech as Twin Engines
Chinese enterprises' outward direct investment is expected to grow steadily over the next two years, with new energy and tech sectors leading the way, and Southeast Asia and Latin America becoming more attractive.
Overall Trend
According to the Ministry of Commerce and industry estimates, Chinese enterprises' outward direct investment (ODI) is expected to reach 148 billion USD in 2024, up about 6% year-on-year, and exceed 155 billion USD in 2025. Growth is mainly driven by new energy, electric vehicles, and digital technology.
Industry Highlights
- New Energy: PV and energy storage firms accelerate global capacity deployment, with overseas production investment exceeding 8 billion USD in 2024 and potentially 10 billion USD in 2025.
- Electric Vehicles: Brands like BYD and Chery build factories in Southeast Asia and Europe; overseas sales share is expected to rise from 15% to 22% by 2025.
- Digital Tech: Cross-border e-commerce (Temu, SHEIN) and SaaS enterprises continue to expand, with related investment reaching about 12 billion USD in 2024.
Regional Markets
- Southeast Asia: Benefiting from RCEP deepening and local digital transformation, Chinese investment growth averages about 8% annually in 2024–2025.
- Latin America: Mexico and Brazil become hot spots, especially for new energy vehicles and lithium resource projects.
- Europe: Due to anti-subsidy investigations, some firms shift toward technology cooperation rather than pure manufacturing investment.
Risks and Challenges
- Geopolitical uncertainties (US-China tech competition, EU carbon tariffs).
- Tougher foreign investment reviews in countries like India and the US.
- Insufficient localization capabilities leading to cultural integration barriers.
Forecast Summary
By 2025, Chinese enterprises' going-global model will evolve from "product export" to "capacity + service" integration, with compliance and brand building becoming core competitiveness.
Related content
2024 Revenue Structure Comparison of Chinese Enterprises Going Global by Market
Based on multi-market data, compare the 2024 revenue composition of Chinese enterprises going global across Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
2024 China's Overseas Expansion Trends Report: Outbound Investment Surges, Southeast Asia a Top Destination
China's outbound direct investment grew 12% YoY in 2024, with Southeast Asia emerging as a prime destination, yet geopolitical risks and compliance burdens remain, according to the latest MOFCOM data.
2024 China Enterprise Global Expansion In-Depth Report: Status, Drivers, Challenges & Recommendations
Based on public data, this report comprehensively analyzes the overall scale, key drivers, major challenges, and strategic recommendations for Chinese enterprises' global expansion in 2024.