Going Out, BRI First
China's non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI) reached 4,531 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, with Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partners absorbing 26.7% of total outflows, the Ministry of Commerce reported. Meanwhile, BRI nations captured 85.9% of China's overseas contracting revenue, with completed engineering projects worth 6,063 billion yuan — underlining the initiative's deepening role in China's external economic strategy.
H1 2026 BRI Scorecard
| Metric | H1 2026 | BRI Share |
|---|---|---|
| Non-financial ODI | 4,531 billion yuan | 26.7% to BRI |
| Outbound contracting completed | 6,063 billion yuan | 85.9% to BRI |
| New foreign enterprises (inbound) | 31,617 (nationwide) | 5.3% growth YoY |
Strategic Infrastructure Dominates
The overwhelming share of BRI contracting revenue reflects heavy investment in railways, ports, power plants and digital infrastructure across Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. Chinese state-owned enterprises continue to dominate large-scale infrastructure projects, though private contractors are increasingly winning contracts in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Trade in Goods Complements Investment
China's goods exports to BRI markets totalled 12.97 trillion yuan in H1 2026, up 14.8% year-on-year — accounting for a significant portion of overall trade growth. The combination of BRI investment and growing trade creates a virtuous cycle: Chinese-funded infrastructure generates demand for Chinese equipment, materials and services.
Geopolitical Dynamics
The 85.9% share of overseas contracting revenue going to BRI countries reflects both China's strategic prioritisation and growing project pipelines in regions where China is the dominant infrastructure financier. In some markets, this has drawn scrutiny from Western governments, but demand from BRI partners remains robust.
Outlook
With BRI accounting for over a quarter of China's outbound investment and nearly nine-tenths of its overseas contracting revenue, the initiative is now the backbone of China's global economic presence. H2 2026 is expected to see continued project announcements in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Africa.