Despite a mild ongoing economic recovery, Western Europe is now the most important international market for U.S. companies doing business globally, according to the latest Wells Fargo International Business Indicator. Surpassing China as the Indicator’s most-mentioned market, Western Europe moved from No. 4 in 2015 to this year’s top spot, with 33 percent of respondents citing it as a key market. With Canada and Mexico falling from the top three, China followed Western Europe with 23 percent, as Asia Pacific, excluding China and Japan (20 percent), and Latin America, excluding Mexico (15 percent), round out the top four.

“Many survey respondents cited the strong U.S. dollar, in comparison to other markets, and Western Europe’s improving economic conditions when mentioning the region as the most important global market,” said Mike Schmittlein, head of Wells Fargo’s Global Banking Group in Europe. “As U.S. companies expand internationally, Western Europe has become an increasingly important market for their future growth. We continue to see more U.S. companies doing business throughout the region and expect that trend to continue.”

Released today by the International Group of Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), the 2016 International Business Indicator1 registered a positive score of 65, up modestly from 63 in 2015. The Indicator tracks the strength and direction of the international outlook of U.S. companies, surveying more than 260 U.S. companies with annual revenue of $50 million or more that conduct at least some international business.

For the second consecutive year, as companies look ahead two-to-three years, China remains the top “hot spot” for longer-term future growth, followed by Mexico and Brazil. Citing its still-growing market and large population, 42 percent of U.S. companies surveyed say China is important to their business success today and/or in the future. However, the region does present a challenge in the short term, with 65 percent of executives reporting that China’s economic slowdown has affected their companies’ international business activities.

Additional Indicator Findings

Despite concerns about exchange rates and global economic conditions, a majority of U.S. companies expect an increase in non - U.S. revenue over the next 12 months as they continue to pursue business opportunities in international markets. Recognizing the ongoing value in doing business globally, 47 percent of U.S. companies expect profits from international business activity to increase this year, compared to 39 percent in 2015. Additionally, 87 percent of U.S. companies agree that international expansion is needed for long-term growth, with emerging markets providing the greatest opportunities (69 percent).

“The latest indicator results show that, even with global volatility, U.S. companies remain optimistic about international growth opportunities,” said Richard Yorke, head of Wells Fargo International Group. “While some U.S. companies may be reevaluating certain factors of their international strategy – such as timing and specific markets – they are not retreating from pursuing global business opportunities as a core part of their business strategy.”

U.S. companies continue to invest in global marketplace

The survey found that U.S. companies remain confident about the future of the global marketplace. Six in 10 companies expect their international business activity to increase, while 54 percent believe the international component of their business will become more important in the next 12 months. Nearly half (44 percent) expect to increase the amount of products/resources they source from outside the U.S., up from 31 percent in 2015. Planning for international growth remains a priority for most U.S. companies, as 63 percent say they expect to increase long-term international business development planning in 2016.

The U.S. Factor

Indicating a dampened outlook for the U.S. business market, less than half (48 percent) of survey respondents expect the U.S. market to improve over the next 12 months, down from 64 percent in 2015. Concerned about growth prospects in the U.S., more than a third (36 percent) expects economic conditions in the U.S. to negatively impact their international business plans, up from 24 percent in 2015. At the same time, a majority of companies agree that low interest rates (66 percent) and depressed energy prices (61 percent) have benefitted their business.

Issues impacting international business decisions

According to the Indicator, corporate taxes and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement are two issues important to U.S. companies. Six in 10 executives say corporate taxes play a significant role in their companies’ international business decisions. While 56 percent of survey respondents say the TPP will open new opportunities for their companies in the Pacific Rim, 19 percent state it is too early to tell whether it will have a positive or negative impact.

When assessing international markets, U.S. companies indicated several key factors that are likely to have a negative impact on their international business plans, including political stability outside of the U.S. (59 percent), currency fluctuations or exchange rates (51 percent), and general economic conditions outside the U.S. (51 percent).

For more information on the Wells Fargo Indicator, including a complete report of the findings and a video overview with Richard Yorke, visit https://www.wellsfargo.com/indicator.

About the Wells Fargo International Business Indicator

On behalf of Wells Fargo, global research firm GfK conducted 262 telephone interviews between December 15, 2015 and February 5, 2016 with executives at U.S. companies with $50 million or more in annual revenue that conduct business internationally. Additionally, participants had to be associate vice president/director level or above, with either direct decision-making or some influence over the company’s international business plans and/or strategies. The margin of error on the total is +/-7.3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Wells Fargo’s International Group operates from 35 countries outside the U.S., including branches in Beijing, the Cayman Islands, Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC), Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Toronto.

About Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,800 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 269,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

About GfK

GfK is one of the world’s largest research companies, with more than 13,000 experts working to discover new insights into the way people live, think and shop, in over 100 markets, every day. GfK is constantly innovating and using the latest technologies and the smartest methodologies to give its clients the clearest understanding of the most important people in the world: their customers. In 2014, GfK’s sales amounted to €1.45 billion. To find out more, visit www.gfk.com.

1 The Indicator score represents the average of responses for two questions regarding the level of importance and activity that U.S. companies expect from their international business in the next 12 months. The Indicator score ranges from zero to 100, where 100 indicates an absolute positive outlook, 50 indicates a neutral outlook, and zero indicates an absolute negative outlook.