South Africa recorded smaller foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows of R16.2-billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, from R26-billion in the third quarter, central bank data showed on Thursday.

For 2023 as a whole direct investment inflows moderated to 96.5 billion rand, down from R151-billion in 2022, as equity investment by foreign parent companies in domestic companies slowed down, the South African Reserve Bank's Quarterly Bulletin also showed.

Portfolio investments saw smaller outflows of R9-billion in the final three months of 2023, following outflows of R41.9-billion in the previous quarter. Cumulative portfolio investment outflows reached R87.5-billion in 2023, compared to inflows of R42.6-billion in 2022.