Central bank data shows South Africa FDI inflows up in first quarter

AFRICAN BUSINESS AND ECONOMYJune 27, 2024 at 4:10 PM UTC

TLDR

South Africa received significant foreign direct investment inflows of 24.4 billion rand ($1.34 billion) in Q1 2024, showing a substantial increase from the previous quarter.
The inflows were primarily driven by the acquisition of a local vehicle-tracking company by a foreign entity, as reported by the South African Reserve Bank's Quarterly Bulletin.
Conversely, portfolio investments experienced outflows for the seventh consecutive quarter, amounting to 52.0 billion rand in the first quarter of 2024.

South Africa recorded foreign direct investment inflows of 24.4 billion rand ($1.34 billion) in the first quarter of 2024, up from a revised 2.5 billion rand in the previous quarter, central bank data showed on Thursday.

The South African Reserve Bank said in its Quarterly Bulletin that the inflows were largely due to the acquisition of a local vehicle-tracking company by an overseas firm, without naming the company that was bought.

Portfolio investments recorded outflows for the seventh consecutive quarter of 52.0 billion rand in the first three months of 2024, compared to outflows of 9.0 billion rand in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Key Takeaways

South Africa's rising FDI inflows highlight a strong interest from overseas investors. This influx is crucial for economic growth, signaling confidence in the country’s market potential and supporting job creation. Conversely, the seventh consecutive quarter of portfolio investment outflows, amounting to 52.0 billion rand, underscores ongoing investor caution and the need for stable economic policies to retain and attract diverse investment types. The acquisition of a local vehicle-tracking company by a foreign firm played a key role in boosting FDI, demonstrating the attractiveness of South African tech assets.

South Africa

FDI

Economy

Foreign Investments

Foreign Direct Investment

Foreign Portfolio Investments

FPI