Bankruptcies stable in the first quarter of 2026, liquidations down
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice/STATEC, 285 companies were declared bankrupt and 37 were wound up during the first quarter of 2026.
Bankruptcies
The number of bankruptcies remained roughly stable in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025 (285 versus 288 rulings). According to initial estimates, potential job losses linked to bankruptcies are down by more than 27% compared with the first quarter of 2025.
In the construction sector, the situation eased slightly in the first quarter of 2026, both in absolute terms (with 45 bankruptcies, 5 fewer than in the first quarter of 2025) and in terms of potential job losses (-12%).
The retail sector recorded 51 bankruptcies in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of nearly 42% compared with the first quarter of 2025, and a near doubling of job losses (+93%).
There were also 18 bankruptcies in the hospitality sector (Horesca) (-51% compared with first quarter of 2025), although initial estimates of job losses among salaried employees are on the rise (+44%).
Chart 2: Quarterly trend in bankruptcies since 2019
Liquidations
Winding-ups fell by 26% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter of 2025. Around a quarter (24%) of the companies wound up during the period under review were holding companies and investment funds.
Chart 2: Quarterly trend in liquidations since 2019
All these topics can be viewed in the STATEC ‘Bankruptcies and Liquidations’ Dashboard, published on 17 April 2026. The bankruptcy statistics are based on the record of court decisions, sourced from the Commercial Register and dated 13 April 2026 for the most recent data.
The number of bankruptcies is calculated as the sum of “new cases or ‘re-openings”, minus bankruptcies reported under the judicial procedure, “judgments and orders declaring bankruptcy”. These figures are provisional. The liquidation of a legal entity, whether a natural or legal person, may be voluntary or judicial. Following liquidation, the entity ceases to exist permanently.
Contact
Bureau de presse/Press office | +352 247-84219 | info@statec.etat.lu
This publication was produced by Laurent Bley. STATEC would like to thank all the contributors who helped make this publication possible.
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