Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated that inward direct investment flows in Macao jumped by 167.8% year-on-year to MOP 53.99 billion in 2019. Analysed by industry, inflows of direct investment in the Gaming sector and Financial Activities totalled MOP 43.31 billion and MOP 8.52 billion respectively, while Real Estate Development, Leasing & Sale Activities recorded a negative inflow (-MOP 1.69 billion). Analysed by country/territory of usual residence of direct investors, inward direct investment flows came mainly from the Cayman Islands (MOP 30.75 billion), the British Virgin Islands (MOP 10.20 billion), mainland China (MOP 7.95 billion) and Hong Kong (MOP 3.48 billion).

In 2019, inward direct investment income rose by 8.6% year-on-year to MOP 80.33 billion. Income earned by foreign direct investors in the Gaming sector (MOP 45.19 billion), Financial Activities (MOP 14.38 billion) and the Wholesale & Retail sector (MOP 8.28 billion) grew by 6.1%, 5.2% and 1.9% respectively.

As at the end of 2019, stock of inward direct investment totalled MOP 346.63 billion, up by 21.2% year-on-year; investment stock from the British Virgin Islands (MOP 89.30 billion), Hong Kong (MOP 86.77 billion), the Cayman Islands (MOP 80.08 billion) and mainland China (MOP 59.19 billion) showed respective increases of 9.0%, 8.9%, 75.0% and 15.7%. Analysed by industry, stock of inward direct investment in the Gaming sector rose by 37.2% to MOP 181.21 billion, of which the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands accounted for 42.4% and 35.6% respectively. Investment stock in Financial Activities grew by 12.8% to MOP 83.03 billion, with 57.7% of the capital coming from mainland China. Investment stock in the Wholesale & Retail sector went up by 5.0% to MOP 31.57 billion, of which Hong Kong contributed 44.6%.

Outward direct investment flows of Macao enterprises totalled MOP 4.53 billion in 2019, up significantly by 292.8% year-on-year. Income earned by Macao enterprises dropped by 18.7% to MOP 1.60 billion. As at the end of 2019, stock of outward direct investment expanded by 9.4% year-on-year to MOP 55.49 billion. Investment in mainland China totalled MOP 45.55 billion, which was mainly concentrated in Guangdong (MOP 33.47 billion), with Zhuhai taking up 70.7% (MOP 23.68 billion) of the total. Besides, investment in Hong Kong amounted to MOP 10.56 billion. Analysed by industry of Macao enterprises, the stock of outward direct investment made by enterprises engaged in Real Estate Development, Leasing & Sale Activities (MOP 16.23 billion), the Gaming sector (MOP 6.62 billion) and the Wholesale & Retail sector (MOP 10.05 billion) went up by 6.1%, 5.9% and 0.2% respectively.

Direct Investment Statistics aims to provide an overview of direct investments between Macao and other economies. For statistical purposes, mainland China and Macao are considered as two economies. The statistics cover Macao enterprises engaged in Industrial Production; Construction; Wholesale & Retail; Hotels & Restaurants; Transport, Storage & Communications; Financial Activities; Gaming; Real Estate Development, Leasing & Sale Activities; and Other Services; however, personal investment and investment of enterprises operating in other industries not specified above are excluded. In order to give a better understanding of outward direct investment by Macao enterprises, the 2019 report incorporates, for the first time, data on direct investment made by Macao enterprises in mainland China that were collected by field staff of DSEC based on the information published by the Mainland authority. Relevant statistics date back to 2018.