Chinese firms in EU report solid performance despite mounting uncertainties
But the survey of companies warns ‘politicisation of commercial issues’ a threat, as Brussels seeks to de-risk supply chains
Over 80 per cent of surveyed companies reported stable or improved performance in Europe in 2024, with more than half posting revenue growth and 40 per cent turning higher profits, according to the report published on Wednesday by the CCCEU, in collaboration with consulting firm Roland Berger.
CCCEU chairman Liu Jiandong said China–EU economic ties were evolving from “complementary interdependence” to “strategic co-shaping”.
He noted that Europe had shifted from more than just an export destination for Chinese enterprises into a “hub for technological innovation, a proving ground for global brands and a key arena for standards alignment”.
Chinese investment in Europe surged last year, with a growing focus on Eastern European markets, particularly Hungary. The report noted that nearly 3,000 Chinese-invested enterprises operated across the EU’s 27 member states by the end of 2024, employing more than 260,000 local staff.
It also highlighted that Chinese companies have increasingly localised production within the bloc, following the principle of “in the EU, for the EU”.