Foreign investment grows in Catalonia above the Spanish average

BarcelonaForeign investment both in Catalonia and in the state as a whole continued to grow in the first half of this 2026, according to data published this Monday by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise. Specifically, the inflow of foreign capital into companies based in Catalan territory was 2.358 billion euros, 68% more than the 1.399 billion recorded in the same period of 2025, an increase that far exceeds that recorded at the Spanish level.

Thus, foreign investment in Spain between last January and June reached 12.446 billion euros, 31% more than in the first half of the previous year. In a statement, the Ministry of Economy points out that the figures are "a clear sign of confidence in our economy, our productive fabric, and the opportunities that Spain offers". "The data show a dynamic foreign investment with an increasingly productive component", adds the ministry.

The 2.358 billion invested in Catalonia represent 18.9% of the total foreign investment received in the state, a percentage very similar to the weight that the Catalan economy has over the Spanish one as a whole. However, as is usual, the autonomous community with the most investment was Madrid, which received 5.635 billion euros, 45% of the total.

It must be kept in mind, however, that the ministry's data are accounted for according to where the company that carries them out has its headquarters in Spain. This makes the capital effect especially notable in the case of Madrid, which accumulates many headquarters of multinationals that have production centers spread across other territories of the state, such as factories, logistics centers, or commercial delegations. Therefore, many autonomous communities receive more investment than what actually appears in the official figures.

In the case of Catalonia, there is the negative effect of investments received that appear as accounted for in Madrid, but it also has a degree of capital effect (lower, however, than that of Madrid): Catalonia is the second epicenter of multinational headquarters in Spain (especially the Barcelona metropolitan area), concentrated in sectors such as food, chemistry, pharmacy, or supermarkets, which have productive investments widely spread throughout the state territory.

Changes with the US investment

The United States is the main investing country in the State, with 23% of the total. Furthermore, this investment has increased by 84% during the first half of this year compared to the first semester of 2025. "The strength of American investment confirms the interest that Spain continues to arouse among large companies and international funds," the ministry assured.

However, these figures are not as clear in Catalonia. North American investors invested 73% less in the first semester than a year ago, down to 155 million euros, and the country fell to third position in capital inflow into Catalan territory.

The ranking was led by South Korea, with 565 million euros. Likewise, Japanese companies also increased their investment, to 220 million. Asian investments in recent years have maintained a good pace in Catalonia, with projects such as the elecfoil factories announced by the Korean company Lotte in Mont-roig del Camp, where the company plans to invest about 1.2 billion in the coming years.

Regarding European countries, Portugal led the investment with 500 million euros, followed by Germany, with 370 million, and the Netherlands, with 155 million.