Destatis: 12,812 insolvencies, highest since 2013

This article is an AI-generated translation of the German original. The German version is authoritative.

5 Min. Read Time

The Federal Statistical Office reports more corporate insolvencies in the first half of 2026 than at any point since 2013. On September 8, the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle records fewer cases in August but more affected jobs. Destatis relies on court decisions, while the IWH uses current register notifications.

Related:More Insolvencies, Smaller Cases: What Counts  /  Financing Climate Q2 2026: Tight Credit, Capital Available

What is the IWH Insolvency Trend? The Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle evaluates monthly insolvency notifications from register courts for partnerships and corporations. This series is published earlier than the official Destatis statistics but covers a narrower scope.

Destatis Records 12,812 Filings in First Half of 2026

The Federal Statistical Office releases Press Release No. 325 on September 11, 2026. In June, courts registered 2,266 corporate insolvency filings, a 15.8% increase over June 2025.

From January to June, Destatis tallies 12,812 filings, 6.7% more than in the same period last year. The last time the half-year total was higher was in 2013, with 13,253 cases.

Filings only appear in the statistics after the first court decision. Destatis notes that actual applications often occur roughly three months earlier. The June figures therefore often reflect conditions from spring.

Creditors Demand €18.5 Billion

Courts estimate claims from the first-half 2026 corporate insolvencies at around €18.5 billion, down from €28.2 billion in the first half of 2025.

Destatis attributes the decline to 2025 having seen more economically significant companies file for insolvency. In 2026, case numbers rise while total claims shrink.

Transport and Warehousing Hit 71.6 per 10,000

Based on 10,000 companies, Destatis recorded 36.2 corporate insolvencies in the first half of the year. Three economic sectors show significantly higher rates.

These three sectors are part of the daily operations for many mid-sized companies, whether as customers, suppliers or clients. Higher insolvency rates in these areas also impact their partners.

IWH Records 1,525 Insolvencies in August

The Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH) released its August insolvency trend on September 8, 2026, reporting 1,525 insolvencies among partnerships and corporations, 10% fewer than in July and 9% more than in August 2025.

Relative to the average August figures from 2016 to 2019, the number is 63% higher. The decline from the previous month lowers the level, but the level remains above the pre-COVID level.

Steffen Müller, head of IWH’s insolvency research, notes that after months of record highs, this decline is more of a breather than a sign of relief. Despite early signs of economic recovery, insolvency levels remain high.

More than 16,000 jobs affected in major insolvencies

In August, In August, more than 16,000 jobs were affected at the largest 10% of insolvent companies, 21% higher than July’s figure., 21% higher than July’s figure.

Compared to the same month last year, the number rose by 33%. Against the August average from 2016 to 2019, the number of affected employees in this category has doubled.

Fewer cases can still mean more jobs when large employers become insolvent.

The IWH’s early indicators typically precede insolvency trends by two to three months. While June and July saw elevated figures, August showed a decline. Due to the high numbers in the prior two months, the institute expects high insolvency figures again over the next two months.

Partnerships and corporations do not cover the full picture

The Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH) tracks insolvencies among partnerships and corporations. According to the institute, this group typically accounts for over 90 percent of affected jobs and 95 percent of claims.

Destatis, Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, records corporate insolvencies, including micro-enterprises. The IWH cases represent roughly two-thirds of official corporate insolvencies. As a result, monthly percentage changes in the two datasets can diverge.

Comparing Destatis’ 2,266 June filings with the IWH’s 1,525 August cases pits two distinct metrics against each other across different months. Destatis’ spring court statistics are still rising, while the IWH’s August registry trend shows a decline in cases but an increase in affected jobs.

“After reaching record highs in recent months, the August drop in insolvency numbers is more of a breather than a sign of relief.”

Steffen Müller, Head of IWH Insolvency Research

Marc Evers warns against reversing course

The German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) commented on the Destatis figures on September 11, 2026. Marc Evers, the DIHK’s expert on mid-sized companies, described the first half of the year as the highest level in 13 years.

According to his analysis, soaring energy costs, bureaucracy, and labor shortages are particularly straining mid-sized companies. He urges policymakers to maintain the reform agenda rather than backtrack on the coalition agreement’s commitments.

The datasets provide different, staggered snapshots. The August decline in IWH cases neither disproves Destatis’ half-year assessment nor signals immediate relief for the months ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Editor’s Picks

• More Insolvencies, Smaller Cases: What’s Being Counted
• Q2 2026 Financing Climate: Tight Credit, Capital Available
• Location Decisions: Energy Costs Outweigh Highway Access

Image Source: AI-generated (September 2026)

Translated from the German original with AI support. The German version is authoritative.