In the first half of 2025, Chinese investment in countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative reached a record $124 billion, Nikkei Asia reports, citing a study by the Center for Green Finance and Development at Fudan University. This figure is more than double the previous year’s level.
The main increase is due to a shift in priorities: while previously the focus was on transport infrastructure, the emphasis has now shifted to energy and mining. Investment in the energy sector reached $44 billion—a historical high—while mining accounted for $24.9 billion. The share of transportation projects decreased to 7.2%, down from 28% in 2018.
The largest financing volumes went to Africa ($39 billion) and Central Asia ($25 billion). Major deals included the construction of a gas processing plant in Nigeria and investments in the aluminum and copper industries in Kazakhstan.