Global foreign direct investment (FDI) declined for the second consecutive year in 2024, falling by 11% when adjusted for volatile flows through European conduit economies—yet one sector stood apart: the digital economy, which recorded a remarkable surge in project values and investor interest. These shifts are now directly reshaping demand patterns, capacity planning, and routing decisions within the global shipping and logistics industry.
According to the World Investment Report 2025, published by UNCTAD, global FDI flows, excluding conduit-related distortions, dropped from $1.67 trillion in 2023 to $1.49 trillion in 2024. That contraction, despite stable macroeconomic indicators like global GDP and trade, signals persistent weakness in international investment flows and increasing investor hesitation across