Source Publication: Balance of International Payments Q4 2016

Get the data: StatBank BPQ20   

FDI in the Financial Account

The financial account displays transactions in foreign assets and liabilities. In Table 2b of the release these transactions are separated by type such that the FDI transactions can be viewed as a distinct category.

Figure 5.2 shows how the financial account is impacted by large FDI transactions. Q1 of 2015 and Q4 of 2015 are especially worth noting; in Q4 of 2015 large FDI transactions into Ireland were counteracted by large Other Investment transactions, out of Ireland. In Q1 of the same year, large FDI transactions out of Ireland were offset by large Portfolio Investments (PI) into the country. 

Source Publication: Balance of International Payments Q4 2016

Get the data: StatBank BPQ16

The Composition of FDI Transactions

Table 2b of the Balance of Payments release also offers a breakdown of FDI flows, such that their composition can be examined on a quarterly basis. Figure 5.3 shows that the large FDI investment into Ireland consisted of both debt and equity. Years without data in Figure 5.3 are supressed in order to protect confidentiality. As FDI transactions in the Balance of Payments release are documented on a directional basis, direct investment of a foreign investor in Ireland is netted off against any investment it receives from its resident direct investment enterprise. Some components of FDI abroad can therefore be negative, and vice versa.

Source Publication: Balance of International Payments Q4 2016

Get the data: Statbank BPQ16 

FDI in the International Investment Position

The IIP is a point in time statistical statement of the value and composition of the balance sheet stock of an economy's foreign financial assets (i.e. the economy's financial claims on the rest of the world) and its foreign financial liabilities (or obligations to the rest of the world). In Table 1a and Table 1b, FDI assets and liabilities are separated into a distinct category.

Figure 5.4 shows that in 2014 there was a trend during which Irish FDI assets increasingly exceeded FDI liabilities. However, this began to decline throughout 2015, to the small net negative position at the end of 2016. The corresponding transaction with respect to this trend can be seen in Figure 5.2 (above) where FDI transactions into the country increased markedly at end of year 2015.

Source Publication: International Investment Position and External Debt December 2016

Get the data: StatBank BPQ26

The Composition of FDI Positions Abroad and in Ireland

After changes in valuation and other are accounted for, Figure 5.5 shows the accumulation of the components in Figure 5.3. This data is published in Table 3a and Table 3b of the IIP release. Figure 5.5 makes it clear that over time, FDI has been primarily composed of equity investment. With that said, the debt component of FDI increased in 2015 but has declined since then.

Source Publication: International Investment Position and External Debt December 2016

Get the data: Statbank BPQ26