US leads in foreign direct investment amid global uncertainty
Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
May 2025 — The United States led the world in attracting new foreign business investment in 2024, setting a record just before trade tensions and policy uncertainty unfolded on a global scale in early 2025.
In the newly released fDi Report 2025, which tracks greenfield investment trends — referring to companies starting new operations in a foreign country — the United States helped propel North America to the top of all global regions, with the continent attracting an estimated $268.2 billion in capital investment and creating 288,108 jobs, marking a 61.1% and 25.2% increase year over year, respectively.
States like Texas, California, and Florida led the way, attracting the most projects and capital inflows.
In Florida, Miami continues to be a key entry point for firms looking to bridge the gap between the United States and Latin America.
“When we were talking about which city to go to, Miami was the first choice,” Inter&Co Global CEO Jo£o Vitor Menin told Invest:. “Miami serves as a strategic gateway between the United States and Latin America, making it an attractive hub for businesses and individuals seeking cross-border financial solutions.”
The Sunshine State benefited from strong momentum in 2024, with project volume increasing by 32% compared to the previous year. While national data puts Texas and California at the top in volume, Florida outperforms in strategic cross-border sectors tied to Latin America and the Caribbean.
For companies based in Texas, connection to other markets creates similar opportunities to grow.
“Being here in Houston is great for us because we can export out of the Port of Houston,” said Sam Thigpen, CEO of Houston-based Sapphire Gas Solutions, in an interview with Invest:. “That’s going to increase our opportunities to move LNG out of Texas through Houston and into Latin America and the Caribbean.”
While traditional energy remains critical to business growth, the report shows renewable energy led all sectors in greenfield investment for a sixth consecutive year. That said, 2024 saw a pullback, with fewer mega projects over $1 billion compared to the year prior, according to the report. The number of large-scale renewables deals dropped from 60 in 2023 to 37 last year, pointing to softer momentum in wind and solar development.
One of the standout trends was semiconductor investment. Foreign companies committed more than $74 billion into semiconductor projects last year, making up over a quarter of all capital investment into North America. Nearly 51% of all semiconductor investment over the past five years was announced just in 2024, fueled by CHIP Act incentives and soaring demand.
This year, however, uncertainty looms across sectors, stemming from significant policy shifts in the United States, led by the Trump administration. Trade tensions, tariffs, and reshoring pressure have already had a significant impact in 2025.
For now, the United States remains the top destination for greenfield FDI — and a fallback for companies navigating an increasingly complex global market.
READ MORE: Trade tensions deepen as investors struggle with uncertainty
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