Despite a rise in the 3th quarter, the number of bankruptcies has been falling since the start of the year
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice/STATEC, 236 companies were declared bankrupt and 24 were wound up during the third quarter of 2026.
Bankruptcies
The number of bankruptcies rose slightly in the third quarter of 2026 (236 compared with 230 rulings in the third quarter of 2025, an increase of 2.6 per cent). However, over the first nine months of 2026, the number of bankruptcies fell by 2.1 per cent (790 compared with 807 rulings between January and September 2025). Excluding holding companies and investment funds, the number of bankruptcies remained broadly stable (-0.3 per cent).
Impact on salaried employment by sector
According to initial estimates, bankruptcies led to the potential loss of 1,943 salaried jobs during the first three quarters of 2026, compared with 2,256 over the same period in 2025. The highest number of bankruptcies (194) involved holding companies and investment funds.
The retail sector recorded 135 insolvencies during the first three quarters of 2026, 11 more than in the same period in 2025, resulting in the loss of approximately 224 salaried jobs (-24 per cent).
The construction sector recorded 124 bankruptcies during the first three quarters of 2026, 10 more than in the same period in 2025 (+9 per cent). Job losses are estimated at 656, up by 14 per cent, representing around one-third of the total potential job losses linked to bankruptcies over this period.
There were 77 bankruptcies in the hospitality sector, 10 fewer than in the same period in 2025, resulting in some 416 salaried jobs lost (+17%).
Chart 2: Quarterly trend in bankruptcies since 2019
Liquidations
Liquidations are on the decline during the first three quarters of 2026 (-35 per cent). 58 per cent 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 14 October 2026. The bankruptcy statistics are based on a compilation of court decisions, drawn from the Commercial Register, with the most recent data dated 12 October 2026.
The number of bankruptcies is calculated as the sum of ‘new cases’ or ‘re-openings’, minus the bankruptcies reported under the judicial procedure ‘judgements and orders declaring bankruptcy’. These figures are provisional.
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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