Direct investment income outflows (earned on investments in Ireland by investors located abroad) were €22.4bn in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of €8.2bn compared with the third quarter of 2020. This decrease is due to the large increase in income outflows that occurred in the previous quarter which was brought about by singularly strong income outflow growth for several large multinationals. This can be seen when comparing the fourth quarter of 2020 with the previous year where there is an increase of €0.1bn in income outflows. Direct investment income inflows, which represent income earned abroad by investors located in Ireland, were €4.1bn in the fourth quarter of 2020, this figure rounds to the same value as seen in the third period of 2020.

The composition of direct investment income outflows is presented in Figure 4.2. Income outflows on reinvested earnings were €16.9bn in the fourth quarter of 2020, with dividends & distributed branch profits outflows at €3.3bn and income on debt outflows at €2.2bn. The aforementioned strong growth in income in the third quarter of 2020 was predominantly seen in reinvested earnings. The figure for reinvested earnings in the fourth quarter has therefore decreased by €8.8bn when compared to the third quarter of 2020. When compared to the same quarter in 2019 however, reinvested earnings have increased by €1.6bn. Income on debt outflows have decreased by €0.2bn and dividends and distributed branch profits outflows have increased by €0.8bn.

Figure 4.3 illustrates a breakdown of direct investment income outflows between two sectors, manufacturing and information and communications. Of the €22.4bn in direct investment income outflows for the fourth quarter of 2020, €14.2bn can be attributed to the manufacturing sector and €5.2bn to the information and communications sector. Income in the fourth quarter of 2020 has decreased for both sectors when compared to the strong growth of the previous quarter but has increased when compared to the previous year. For example, the manufacturing sector income outflows have decreased by €4.9bn compared to last quarter but have increased €1.7bn compared to the same period in 2019 and the information and communications sector has decreased by €3bn from last quarter but increased €1.3bn from the same period in 2019. 

Foreign direct investment (FDI) transactions abroad and in Ireland are shown in Figure 4.4. Direct investment into Ireland decreased by €19.9bn in the fourth quarter of 2020. Direct investment abroad decreased by €13.9bn in the quarter. The decrease in both direct investment into Ireland and abroad was impacted significantly by corporate restructuring.

The stock of FDI assets held abroad increased from €895.1bn in Q3 2020 to €983.4bn in Q4 2020, while the stock of FDI assets held in Ireland increased from €1,008.1bn in Q3 2020 to €1,100.2bn in Q4 2020. FDI assets held in Ireland by foreign investors increased by €92.2bn, this increase was due to the inclusion of existing foreign owned Irish entities in the balance of payments data as well as the aforementioned corporate restructuring alluded to in the previous paragraph. FDI assets held abroad by Irish investors increased by €88.4bn, this increase was also impacted by the corporate re-structuring as well as increases in assets held by the Redomiciled PLCs. 

The impact of foreign direct investment income on the current account balance is shown in Figure 4.6. In Q4 2020 net direct investment income (FDI income inflows less FDI income outflows) was -€18.3bn while the net of all other current account components (trade in merchandise, services and other income) stood at €25.4bn. The resultant balance was a current account surplus of €7.1bn.

The impact of direct investment transactions on the financial account balance is shown in Figure 4.7. In Q4 2020 there was net flows of €6bn in foreign direct investment transactions while the net contribution from other financial account components (portfolio investment, other investment and reserve assets) was €6.7bn. This contributed to a financial account surplus of €12.7bn.

The net stock of foreign direct investment assets in the net international investment position (IIP) is shown in Figure 4.8. In Q4 2020 there was a net direct investment position of -€116.8bn. Other net IIP components (portfolio investment, other investment and reserve assets) accounted for -€498.2bn. The overall net IIP balance is -€615bn.

The rate of return on FDI investment in Ireland and abroad alongside the stock of FDI assets held in Ireland and abroad is presented in Figure 4.9. The rate of return is calculated by FDI income divided by FDI positions. The return on investments in Ireland is significantly higher than the return on investments made abroad. In Q4 2020 the annual rate of return on FDI investment in Ireland was 9.7% compared to 1.9% on FDI investment abroad. This is the third consecutive quarter of decline for the annual rate of return on investment abroad.

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