Overview
- The Federal Statistical Office reported on Friday that 12,812 corporate insolvency filings were registered in January–June 2026, a 6.7% rise from a year earlier and the highest first‑half total since 2013.
- June alone saw 2,266 corporate filings, up 15.8% year‑on‑year, marking the strongest monthly level in over a decade.
- Total creditor claims fell to about €18.5 billion in H1 2026 from roughly €28.2 billion a year earlier, which indicates many of the new cases involve smaller, less economically significant firms.
- Insolvency frequency is concentrated in transport and storage, followed by hospitality and construction, while North Rhine‑Westphalia reported a 7.5% rise in H1 filings but fewer employees at risk than in 2025.
- Business groups and researchers warn the trend is driven by weak domestic demand, higher energy and labor costs and regulatory burdens, and they are urging swift policy action to protect SMEs and limit job losses from larger failures.