Company bankruptcies in Germany at 13-year high

Despite a recent increase in the overall economic recovery, company bankruptcies in Germany remain at a high level. This emerges from the latest figures from the Federal Statistical Office for the first half of 2026, which were published today. According to this, company bankruptcies in Germany rose to their highest level in 13 years in the first half of the year.

Specifically, the district courts reported 12,812 filed corporate insolvencies, 6.7 percent more than in the same period last year. The last time there was a higher number in the first half of the year was in 2013 with 13,253 cases. This time, companies from the transport and warehousing sectors were particularly affected, followed by the hospitality and construction sectors.

Costs and bureaucracy as well as a weak economy are reasons

“The domestic economy, which has been sluggish for a long time, high and rising costs for energy and labor as well as excessive bureaucracy, is taking the breath away from many companies,” said SME expert at the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK), Marc Evers. In June alone, more businesses had to close their doors than in 14 years. In order to move away from such negative records, the federal government must focus again on the competitiveness of companies and quickly implement reforms.

At the same time, there is also a start-up boom: 3,053 new start-ups were founded between January and June - more than ever before and 52 percent more than in the previous half-year, as the startup association announced.

DAX is stabilizing

At the end of the week, the DAX is attempting to recover. The German leading index, which had fallen to 25,361 points the day before, exceeded the 25,500 point mark again in the early afternoon - an increase of around 0.4 percent. Interest rate and inflation concerns had dragged the DAX down by over 1,000 points since the end of August. On a weekly basis, there is a drop of a good two percent.

The bond markets have also been trending weaker recently, with the yield on ten-year government bonds rising to 3.51 percent.