Slightly more bankruptcies in September

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© ANP
The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has slightly increased. There were 8 more bankruptcies in September than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The number of pronounced bankruptcies remains at a low level.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearMonthNumber of bankruptcies
2016October303
2016November417
2016December332
2017January336
2017February292
2017March304
2017April263
2017May281
2017June300
2017July266
2017August231
2017September237
2017October261
2017November251
2017December269
2018January273
2018February232
2018March266
2018April266
2018May259
2018June248
2018July251
2018August257
2018September224
2018October264
2018November277
2018December328
2019January286
2019February254
2019March277
2019April281
2019May264
2019June271
2019July274
2019August261
2019September257
2019October253
2019November288
2019December243
2020January272
2020February271
2020March259
2020April335
2020May265
2020June231
2020July 205
2020August175
2020September183

Number of bankruptcies at a low level 

The number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships), adjusted for court session days, is seen to fluctuate significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (816). The number then decreased up to and including August 2017. Subsequently, the trend remained fairly flat. After April 2020, the number of bankruptcies fell for four months in a row. In August 2020, the lowest number since September 1999 was recorded. The number of bankruptcies increased slightly in September 2020.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 211 businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt in September 2020. With a total of 40 (one more than in August), the trade sector suffered most. 

Trade is among the sectors with the largest number of businesses. In September, the number of bankruptcies was relatively highest in the sector transportation and storage.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
 September 2020August 2020
Trade4039
Construction2920
Manufacturing2312
Specialised business services2212
Transport, storage2111
Renting, other business services1911
Financial services1424
Accommodation and food services1010
Care92
Culture, sports, recreation75
Information & communication75
Real estate activities52
Agriculture02

37 bankruptcies in week 40

Not including sole proprietorships, there were 37 bankruptcies in week 40. This is 14 down on the previous week. In addition, 10 sole proprietorships were declared bankrupt, 2 fewer than in the previous week. In the first 40 weeks of 2020, altogether 2,621 bankruptcies were pronounced among companies and institutions (including sole proprietorships) in the Netherlands. This is 264 fewer than in the same period in 2019.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships), weekly
 Week Bankruptcies
2019115
2019265
2019355
2019468
2019569
2019657
2019770
2019846
2019966
20191062
20191154
20191274
20191369
20191474
20191567
20191676
20191756
20191849
20191956
20192048
20192166
20192275
20192351
20192458
20192574
20192670
20192768
20192866
20192959
20193059
20193161
20193254
20193367
20193466
20193556
20193642
20193770
20193878
20193950
20194055
20194161
20194261
20194338
20194484
20194558
20194673
20194764
20194871
20194968
20195061
20195179
20195243
2020122
2020260
2020358
2020463
2020571
2020646
20207102
2020856
2020954
20201073
20201160
20201260
20201344
20201469
20201589
20201660
20201798
20201864
20201948
20202073
20202169
20202269
20202364
20202454
20202574
20202630
20202754
20202856
20202946
20203036
20203146
20203242
20203353
20203429
20203541
20203632
20203743
20203851
20203951
20204037

Figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.