Fewer bankruptcies in 2020

2017	January	336
2017	February	292
2017	March	304
2017	April	263
2017	May	281
2017	June	300
2017	July	266
2017	August	231
2017	September	237
2017	October	261
2017	November	251
2017	December	269
2018	January	273
2018	February	232
2018	March	266
2018	April	266
2018	May	259
2018	June	248
2018	July	251
2018	August	257
2018	September	224
2018	October	264
2018	November	277
2018	December	328
2019	January	286
2019	February	254
2019	March	277
2019	April	281
2019	May	264
2019	June	271
2019	July	274
2019	August	261
2019	September	257
2019	October	253
2019	November	288
2019	December	243
2020	January	272
2020	February	271
2020	March	259
2020	April	335
2020	May	265
2020	June	231
2020	July	205
2020	August	175
2020	September	184
2020	October	171
2020	November	178
2020	December	138

Number of bankruptcies at historically 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 until July 2020. Since then, the trend has been downwards. In December 2020, the number of bankruptcies (on a monthly basis) reached its lowest level since February 1991.

Number of bankrupties in 2020 down by 16 percent year-on-year

Over the entire year 2020, a total of 2,703 bankruptcies were pronounced. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 16 percent. Many companies were affected by the coronavirus crisis in 2020, but the number of bankruptcies was at the lowest level in 20 years.

The number of bankruptcies peaked in 2013 at 8,376 and subsequently dropped for five consecutive years. In 2019, the number of bankruptcies increased slightly, but the level was still relatively low. In 2020, the number of bankruptcies decreased again, to the lowest level in 20 years. The fact that fewer companies were declared bankrupt in times of coronavirus cannot be seen in isolation from the government support.

2000	2621
2001	3333
2002	4085
2003	5235
2004	5267
2005	5083
2006	4228
2007	3589
2008	3842
2009	6942
2010	6162
2011	6117
2012	7349
2013	8376
2014	6645
2015	5271
2016	4399
2017	3291
2018	3145
2019	3209
2020	2703

Sharpest decrease in trade

The number of bankruptcies dropped in almost every sector. In absolute terms, the decrease was most pronounced in the trade sector. Its total fell by 149, from 730 in 2019 to 581 in 2020. In wholesale, retail trade and trade and repair of motor vehicles, the number of bankruptcies dropped by 69, 41 and 39 respectively. Furthermore, the specialised business services sector (including research and consulting firms) saw a decrease of 107. In relative terms, care (health and welfare) was among the sectors with the largest decrease.

However, the accommodation and food services sector was faced with the strongest increase: 39 bankruptcies. In accommodation services (including hotels), the number of bankruptcies rose by 25 and in food and beverage services (including restaurants and cafes) by 14. A relatively large number of bankruptcies were declared in the second quarter of 2020.

Just as in previous years, most bankruptcies were pronounced in the trade sector (581) in 2020. Trade is among the sectors with the highest number of businesses.

Trade	581	730
Financial services	312	396
Specialised business services	292	399
Construction	253	291
Accommodation and food services	235	196
Renting and other business services	220	234
Manufacturing	200	244
Transportation and storage	188	182
Information and communication	85	135
Care	81	139
Arts, sports and recreation	73	55
Other service activities	57	54
Real estate activities	42	53
Education	38	31
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries	17	23