A study conducted by the global real estate consulting firm CBRE showed that Asian investors spent $40 billion on international commercial real estate in 2014, a 23 percent increase year-over-year, with the aim of diversifying their global geographic footprint through real estate, whereas in 2013 they focused on the office sector in major global cities.

By continent

The study noted that the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region is the largest recipient of Asian investment, attracting $13.7 billion—or 34 percent of the capital—from the region in 2014. It noted that «Asian investments in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region were 50 percent higher than those directed toward the Americas, reaching $8.9 billion last year.»

At the country level

At the country level, there were notable trends in 2014, with Asian investments in Germany increasing significantly from $984 million in 2013 to $2.373 billion last year. Asian investors spent $522 million in Spain in 2014—compared to a complete absence of investment in 2013—and $451 million in Italy, compared to $4 million.

By sector

Globally, the hotel sector was the biggest beneficiary of Asian investors looking beyond office markets, accounting for 16 percent of total international spending, up from 11 percent in 2013. In Europe, they invested more than 10 times the capital compared to the previous year in the sector, totaling $1.370 billion in 2014 compared to $137 million. The study noted that «investor activity has increased, with Singapore being the largest source of Asian capital, followed by China and Hong Kong, Taiwanese and Chinese insurance companies also increased their international investment activities, particularly in real estate, by 770 and 310 percent, respectively, in 2014.»