Observation of Enterprise ODI Going Global in 2026: Southeast Asia Becomes the Core pivot, Semiconductor and New Energy Lead Cross border Investment

1、 Chinese Enterprises Going Global in the New Pattern: From Product Output to Capacity Collaboration

In the first half of 2026, the structure of Chinese enterprises' outward direct investment is undergoing profound changes. According to the public industry report, 74% of the interviewed enterprises listed Asia as the preferred target market for going overseas. Southeast Asia has become the core fulcrum of cross-border layout of Chinese enterprises by virtue of the superposition effect of market capacity, demographic dividend and Internet penetration. Europe and South America rank second with 33% and 26% respectively, reflecting that the global business network of Chinese enterprises is shifting from "single point breakthrough" to "multi regional collaboration".

This wave of rising tide is fundamentally different from the transfer of manufacturing capacity ten years ago. Currently, Chinese enterprises going global is no longer simply a cost driven migration, but rather seeking the optimal allocation of technology, market, supply chain, and talent on a global scale. The cross-border transaction activity in the fields of semiconductors, biomedicine, new energy vehicles, high-end equipment, etc. is significantly higher than other industries, and mixed models such as industrial joint ventures, equity investments, and technology authorizations are increasing.

2、 Destination selection: Emphasizing both neighboring countries and global southern markets

From a national perspective, the top ten destinations for Chinese companies' overseas mergers and acquisitions in the first half of 2026 show differentiation. Australia has become a popular destination for mergers and acquisitions for the first time, driven by the recovery of China Australia relations and large-scale transactions; Germany, Austria, Norway, South Korea, and the United Kingdom recorded significant year-on-year growth. At the same time, Southeast Asian countries represented by Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia continue to undertake manufacturing capacity transfer and digital economy investment.

The trend outlook released by the China Council for the Promotion of International Investment points out that the global southern market, with a focus on neighboring countries, has become the main destination for Chinese companies to go global. The global layout of production and supply chains, distribution facilities, and marketing networks complement each other, and the ability to operate locally has become the key for Chinese enterprises to move from "going global" to "going global". For small and medium-sized enterprises planning to go global, when choosing a destination, it is necessary to comprehensively consider multiple factors such as market size, policy stability, labor costs, tax system, and geopolitical risks.

3、 Industry Trend: Parallel Greening and High End Development

The industry concentration of current outbound investment is increasing. Artificial intelligence, biomedicine, new energy vehicles, and high-end equipment are currently popular choices for enterprises to go global. The layout of photovoltaic modules, power batteries, and energy storage system enterprises in the field of new energy is accelerating in Southeast Asia and Europe; Semiconductor companies are seeking technological cooperation and supply chain security in Germany, Japan, and other places.

The trading methods are also diversifying. In addition to traditional green space investment and mergers and acquisitions, the proportion of mixed models such as industrial joint ventures, joint research and development, and technology licensing has increased. Enhanced two-way trading - both Chinese companies seeking technology and markets abroad and foreign capital actively seeking cooperation with China's advantageous industries. This two-way flow means that Chinese enterprises going global is no longer a one-way resource acquisition, but a search for new positioning in the global value chain.

4、 The practical challenges faced by enterprises going global

Despite the vast opportunities, Chinese enterprises still face multiple challenges when going global. The adjustment of foreign exchange management policies, stricter regulation in target countries, geopolitical uncertainty, cultural integration, and shortage of localized talents are all issues that enterprises need to face when planning their ODI path. The new regulations on foreign investment, released in June 2026, emphasize the improvement of the quality and efficiency of foreign investment, which means that the regulatory authorities have further increased their requirements for the compliance and authenticity of cross-border investment.

For enterprises planning to go global, early market research, legal framework design, tax planning, financing arrangements, and risk management are all indispensable. Many small and medium-sized enterprises tend to overlook the complexity of localized operations in the early stages of going global, resulting in additional costs in areas such as labor relations, environmental compliance, and intellectual property protection in the later stages.

5、 The value of industry exhibitions as information docking platforms

In this context, industry exhibitions have become an important channel for enterprises to obtain first-hand information and connect with professional service resources. From November 20th to 22nd, 2026, the Overseas Immigrant Study and Property Expo, as well as the Enterprise Overseas Development and Financial Services Expo, will be held at the Shanghai World Trade Exhibition Center for three days, with an expected attendance of about 8000 people. The Expo has set up a dedicated area for enterprise overseas and ODI services, bringing together cross-border investment consulting agencies, law firms, accounting firms, financial institutions, and investment representatives from target countries, providing opportunities for face-to-face communication for enterprises with overseas intentions.

Exhibitors can learn about the policy environment, investment admission requirements, and practical cases of different destinations at the exhibition, and directly communicate with professional service agencies to plan their own overseas routes. For service providers, exhibitions are also an effective venue for contacting precise customers and showcasing professional capabilities.

If you need to know more about exhibitions or visits, you can call the exhibition hotline 13681692751 (same as WeChat) or visit the official website www.qs-expo.com for more information.