Business · Companies · 19 hrs ago
Chinese Investment in Spain Remains Limited as Major Projects Take Shape
Chinese investment in Spain remains small compared with investment from the United States and major European countries.
At the end of 2024, China held €13 billion, or 2% of Spain’s accumulated foreign investment, and its investments were linked to about 14,300 jobs.
The focus has shifted from buying existing businesses to building projects in electric cars and batteries, ports, and renewable energy.
But announced investment far exceeds completed deals: since 2019, about €14.5 billion was announced, while roughly €1.7 billion in deals was completed.
A planned €900 million electrolyser factory by Envision illustrates the uncertainty: two years after an agreement with Spain’s industry ministry, it still had no known location.
Spain must decide which Chinese investments it wants, while individual states control security reviews and regional and local governments also grant aid.
Chinese investment remains a small share of foreign investment in Spain, with a stock of €13 billion at the end of 2024.
China accounted for 1% of Spain’s foreign direct investment inflows over the past seven years, compared with 22% from the United States.
Recent Chinese investment has shifted from buying businesses and assets to building projects, especially in electric vehicles and batteries, ports, and renewable energy.
Since 2019, about €14.5 billion in Chinese investments has been announced, but only about €1.7 billion has been completed.
Major projects include a €4.1 billion battery plant being built by CATL and Stellantis in Figueruelas.
- Who
- Chinese investors and companies, including CATL, Chery, SAIC and COSCO, are involved.
- What
- Chinese investment in Spain remains limited, while projects are taking shape in batteries, vehicles, ports and renewable energy.
- When
- The investment stock figures are for the end of 2024; the article was published on November 7, 2026.
- Where
- Spain, including Figueruelas, Barcelona, Ferrol, Valencia, Bilbao, Málaga and Huelva.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
China joined the World Trade Organization.
Most of China’s accumulated investment stock in Spain was formed through purchases of stakes in Spanish companies.
About €14.5 billion in Chinese investments has been announced, of which about €1.7 billion has been completed.
COSCO took control of a major container terminal at the port of Valencia and the terminal at Bilbao.
Envision signed a memorandum with Spain’s Industry Ministry for an electrolyser factory of about €900 million.
Two years after the memorandum, the factory’s location was still unknown.
- Chinese investment stock
- €13 billion at the end of 2024, or 2% of the total
- Chinese investment-linked jobs
- About 14,300
- Announced investments since 2019
- About €14.5 billion
- Completed investments since 2019
- About €1.7 billion
- CATL–Stellantis battery plant
- €4.1 billion; under construction in Figueruelas
- Envision electrolyser factory
- About €900 million; location not known two years after the 2024 memorandum
What people are saying
What has changed is not the volume, but the type of investment.
Spain has to decide which Chinese investments it is interested in.