Foreign direct investment (FDI) is at a crossroads, according to the latest Global Investment Trends Monitor released by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on 20 January.

In 2024, global FDI rose 11% to an estimated $1.4 trillion but dipped by 8% when excluding flows through European conduit economies – which often serve as transfer points for investments before they reach their final destination – reflecting a world grappling with shifting economic dynamics and persistent uncertainties.

Developed economies: A tale of two regions

Developed economies experienced sharp contrasts. North America saw a 13% rise in FDI, driven by an 80% increase in US mergers and acquisitions (M&A). The value of greenfield projects – new investments in foreign markets – surged 93% in the US, reaching $266 billion, spurred by semiconductor megaprojects. The United Kingdom also saw a 32% increase in greenfield investments to $85 billion, and Italy posted a remarkable 71% jump to $43 billion.

Europe, however, faced steep declines. FDI fell 45% when excluding conduit economies, with 18 out of 27 European Union countries seeing drops. Germany’s FDI plunged 60% and Italy’s fell 35%. Even greenfield investments, vital for future growth, dropped 10% across Europe, though the region saw a 15% rise in total project value, signaling the significance of a few large-scale projects.

International project finance – a key driver for infrastructure and energy investments – also faced challenges, with deals dropping 26% in number and nearly a third in value across developed economies. More

The acquisition underscores YMX Logistics' commitment to redefining yard operations for enterprise shippers across North America.

YMX Logistics, a national provider of integrated yard logistics operations, announced today the acquisition of Yard Commander, a leading yard management system (YMS).


Founded in 2011 by Enrico Notte and Aaron Barnhard, Yard Commander is deployed across hundreds of facilities throughout North America. The yard management system is widely recognized for its user-friendly interface, real-time visibility, and scalable solutions that address the diverse needs of businesses managing complex yard operations. Both Notte and Barnhard have joined the YMX team immediately, with Notte serving as Head of YMS and Barnhard leading YMS engineering.


This acquisition aligns with YMX Logistics' strategic vision to redefine yard logistics. By integrating Yard Commander's breadth of capabilities and extensive customer base, YMX aims to strengthen its position as an industry leader, enhance its enterprise platform, and empower its partner ecosystem to deliver increased value to enterprise shippers.


"Technology alone won't solve the problem in the yard. Yards remain a blind spot for many large shippers, with no outsourced service provider having the capabilities to provide the ultimate integrated solution for the enterprise," said Matt Yearling, CEO of YMX Logistics. "Our goal is to guide our customers on a differentiated roadmap to greater efficiency, proactive problem-solving, reduced spending, and meaningful sustainability contributions across all nodes of their network. This acquisition represents an important step into this journey, and we are excited to welcome Enrico and Aaron to the team."


Yearling brings a wealth of industry expertise to YMX, having served as CEO of PINC, where he led the company to become a market leader in yard management solutions before its significant growth equity investment by the private equity firm Accel-KKR in 2020*.


"Joining YMX Logistics marks an exciting new chapter for Yard Commander. Since our founding, we've been dedicated to simplifying and optimizing yard operations through innovative technology," said Enrico Notte, head of YMS at YMX. "Now part of YMX, it will allow us to expand our impact and holistically deliver transformative value to enterprises seeking to modernize and optimize their logistics networks."


"Integrating Yard Commander's technology with YMX Logistics' operational expertise will enable enterprise customers to benefit from improved visibility, enhanced efficiency, sustainable operations, and a unique approach to yard management," completes Aaron Barnhard, head of YMS engineering at YMX.