Swedish direct investment assets abroad in the form of equity decreased by SEK 108 billion, to SEK 2 828 at year end. Net claims against foreign subsidiaries and associated companies amounted to SEK 364 billion, an increase of SEK 52 billion compared with 2016. Sweden’s largest direct investment assets abroad are in the United States, the Netherlands and Norway. Swedish direct investment assets in Finland decreased by SEK 131 billion, which means they are no longer among the three countries in which Sweden has most assets. Assets decreased the most in Belgium, which accounted for a decrease of SEK 170 billion. The Netherlands accounted for the largest increase, at SEK 89 billion. As in previous years, the largest assets abroad are owned by Swedish companies operating in finance and insurance, and by companies manufacturing metal and machinery products.

Among total direct investment assets abroad, SEK 118 billion was controlled by Swedish special purpose entities (SPEs). SPEs are enterprises that are ultimately controlled from abroad and, beyond owning assets and liabilities, have limited activities in Sweden. Reporting SPE data separately provides a useful measure of a country’s incoming and outgoing direct investments, by making it possible to exclude capital that only passes through a country on its way to other destinations.

Foreign direct investment assets in Sweden increased

Foreign direct investment assets in Sweden increased by SEK 99 billion to SEK 2 909 billion in 2017. At the end of the year, net liabilities to foreign owner groups amounted to SEK 440 billion, down by SEK 69 billion compared with the previous year. In 2017, equity increased by SEK 168 billion to SEK 2 469 billion in total.

The Netherlands continues to be the largest holder of foreign direct investment assets in Sweden, followed by Luxembourg and the United Kingdom. The largest foreign assets in Sweden are in the sectors financial and insurance activities, manufacture of petroleum products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and rubber and plastic products. Among total direct investments in Sweden, SEK 240 billion comprise investments in Swedish SPEs.

Income increased

Income on Swedish direct investment assets abroad increased by SEK 28 billion and amounted to SEK 246 billion in total. Income on foreign direct investment assets in Sweden amounted to SEK 183 billion, an increase of SEK 3 billion compared with 2016.