More bankruptcies in May

12/06/2023 15:00

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The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has increased. There were 16 more bankruptcies in May than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). This is an increase of 7 percent. The number of bankruptcies remained below the pre-pandemic level. In the first five months of this year, however, it was higher by more than half compared to the same period of 2022.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Week	Number of bankruptcies
2019	June	304
2019	July	312
2019	August	303
2019	September	316
2019	October	290
2019	November	342
2019	December	297
2020	January	311
2020	February	333
2020	March	280
2020	April	382
2020	May	406
2020	June	257
2020	July	227
2020	August	195
2020	September	212
2020	October	190
2020	November	210
2020	December	174
2021	January	172
2021	February	143
2021	March	165
2021	April	193
2021	May	163
2021	June	139
2021	July	125
2021	August	109
2021	September	141
2021	October	126
2021	November	183
2021	December	159
2022	January	139
2022	February	182
2022	March	166
2022	April	119
2022	May	189
2022	June	164
2022	July	148
2022	August	148
2022	September	174
2022	October	219
2022	November	228
2022	December	269
2023	January	228
2023	February	277
2023	March	212
2023	April	239
2023	May	255

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Week	Number of bankruptcies
2019	June	304
2019	July	312
2019	August	303
2019	September	316
2019	October	290
2019	November	342
2019	December	297
2020	January	311
2020	February	333
2020	March	280
2020	April	382
2020	May	406
2020	June	257
2020	July	227
2020	August	195
2020	September	212
2020	October	190
2020	November	210
2020	December	174
2021	January	172
2021	February	143
2021	March	165
2021	April	193
2021	May	163
2021	June	139
2021	July	125
2021	August	109
2021	September	141
2021	October	126
2021	November	183
2021	December	159
2022	January	139
2022	February	182
2022	March	166
2022	April	119
2022	May	189
2022	June	164
2022	July	148
2022	August	148
2022	September	174
2022	October	219
2022	November	228
2022	December	269
2023	January	228
2023	February	277
2023	March	212
2023	April	239
2023	May	255

Number of bankruptcies low

The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, fluctuates significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (911); it subsequently declined continuously until August 2017 inclusive, after which it remained fairly stable until mid-2020. It then followed a downward trend again, reaching a record low in August 2021. As of May 2022, the number of bankruptcies has continuously been higher than in the same month a year earlier.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, in May a total of 292 businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt. The trade sector suffered most with 45 bankruptcies; this is an increase of 5 percent relative to April.

The trade sector is one of the sectors with the largest number of businesses. In May, relatively the highest number of bankruptcies was pronounced in the sector accommodation and food services.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
Sector	May 2023	April 2023
Trade	45	43
Construction	44	29
Accommodation and food services	33	17
Manufacturing	26	16
Specialised business services	25	26
Transportation and storage	21	17
Financial services	20	16
Renting and other business services	20	19
Care	20	4
Information and communication	11	9
Other service activities	8	6
Education	6	5
Real estate activities	5	2
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	4	3
Arts, sports and recreation	4	6

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) by sector
Sector	May 2023	April 2023
Trade	45	43
Construction	44	29
Accommodation and food services	33	17
Manufacturing	26	16
Specialised business services	25	26
Transportation and storage	21	17
Financial services	20	16
Renting and other business services	20	19
Care	20	4
Information and communication	11	9
Other service activities	8	6
Education	6	5
Real estate activities	5	2
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	4	3
Arts, sports and recreation	4	6

Sources

StatLine - Bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days
StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, SIC 2008
StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, regions

Number of bankruptcies low

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade

Sources

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