German Corporate Bankruptcies Reach Highest Level Since 2013

Creditreform, a credit rating agency, announced that the number of company bankruptcies in Germany reached 13,000 in the first half of 2026, the highest level recorded since 2013.

According to a statement from Creditreform, bankruptcies among companies increased by 7.8% compared to the same period last year, totaling 12,900 cases during the first six months of 2026.

The agency attributed this record rise to the financial weakness faced by German companies after years of economic recession, compounded by an energy crisis linked to the conflict in Iran.

The study also highlighted a rise in individual bankruptcies, which reached 38,800 cases in the first half of 2026, reflecting a 2.3% increase compared to the previous year.

Startups were identified as the most affected segment, with bankruptcy rates rising by 25.3% among companies younger than two years, and by 11.1% among those aged between three and four years.

The total losses resulting from company bankruptcies in the first half of 2026 amounted to approximately 28.5 billion euros, impacting around 165,000 jobs due to these collective insolvencies.