Fewer bankruptcies in May

12/06/2020 15:00

More recent figures are available on this topic. View the latest figures here.

The number of corporate bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days, has decreased. There were 73 fewer bankruptcies in May than in the previous month, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The trend has been slightly upwards since October 2018. In the first five months of this year, the number of bankruptcies was up by almost 3 percent relative to the same period in 2019.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Month	Number of bankruptcies
2016	June	384
2016	July	371
2016	August	287
2016	September	299
2016	October	303
2016	November	417
2016	December	332
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	262

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
Year	Month	Number of bankruptcies
2016	June	384
2016	July	371
2016	August	287
2016	September	299
2016	October	303
2016	November	417
2016	December	332
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	262

Trend slightly upwards since October 2018

The number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships), adjusted for court session days, is seen to fluctuate significantly. Ups and downs alternate quickly. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013. This was followed by a downward trend until September 2017. Subsequently, the trend has been relatively stable. The number of bankruptcies reached the lowest level of this century in September 2018, after which the trend is slightly upwards.

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade sector

If the number of court session days is not taken into account, 259 businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt in May 2020. With a total of 53 (31 fewer than in the previous month), the trade sector suffered most.

Trade is among the sectors with the highest number of businesses. In May, the number of bankruptcies was relatively highest in the sector accommodation and food services.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
	May 2020	April 2020
Trade	53	84
Renting, other business services	31	31
Financial services	31	13
Manufacturing	26	26
Construction	25	41
Transport, storage	24	40
Specialised business services	18	20
Real estate activities	11	14
Accommodation and food services	10	4
Culture, sports, recreation	8	4
Information & communication	7	5
Care	5	9
Agriculture	1	4

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
	May 2020	April 2020
Trade	53	84
Renting, other business services	31	31
Financial services	31	13
Manufacturing	26	26
Construction	25	41
Transport, storage	24	40
Specialised business services	18	20
Real estate activities	11	14
Accommodation and food services	10	4
Culture, sports, recreation	8	4
Information & communication	7	5
Care	5	9
Agriculture	1	4

Week 23: 64 bankruptcies

Not including sole proprietorships, there were 64 bankruptcies in week 23 (31 May to 6 June inclusive). This is 5 down on the previous week. In addition, 7 sole proprietorships were declared bankrupt, 3 fewer than in the previous week. In the first 23 weeks of 2020, altogether 1,727 bankruptcies were pronounced among companies and institutions (including sole proprietorships) in the Netherlands. This is 70 more than in the same period in 2019.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships), weekly
	Week	Bankruptcies
2019	1	15
2019	2	65
2019	3	55
2019	4	68
2019	5	69
2019	6	57
2019	7	70
2019	8	46
2019	9	66
2019	10	62
2019	11	54
2019	12	74
2019	13	69
2019	14	74
2019	15	67
2019	16	76
2019	17	56
2019	18	49
2019	19	56
2019	20	48
2019	21	66
2019	22	75
2019	23	51
2019	24	58
2019	25	74
2019	26	70
2019	27	68
2019	28	66
2019	29	59
2019	30	59
2019	31	61
2019	32	54
2019	33	67
2019	34	66
2019	35	56
2019	36	42
2019	37	70
2019	38	78
2019	39	50
2019	40	55
2019	41	61
2019	42	61
2019	43	38
2019	44	84
2019	45	58
2019	46	73
2019	47	64
2019	48	71
2019	49	68
2019	50	61
2019	51	79
2019	52	43
2020	1	22
2020	2	60
2020	3	58
2020	4	63
2020	5	71
2020	6	46
2020	7	102
2020	8	56
2020	9	54
2020	10	73
2020	11	60
2020	12	60
2020	13	44
2020	14	69
2020	15	89
2020	16	60
2020	17	98
2020	18	64
2020	19	48
2020	20	73
2020	21	69
2020	22	69
2020	23	64

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships), weekly
	Week	Bankruptcies
2019	1	15
2019	2	65
2019	3	55
2019	4	68
2019	5	69
2019	6	57
2019	7	70
2019	8	46
2019	9	66
2019	10	62
2019	11	54
2019	12	74
2019	13	69
2019	14	74
2019	15	67
2019	16	76
2019	17	56
2019	18	49
2019	19	56
2019	20	48
2019	21	66
2019	22	75
2019	23	51
2019	24	58
2019	25	74
2019	26	70
2019	27	68
2019	28	66
2019	29	59
2019	30	59
2019	31	61
2019	32	54
2019	33	67
2019	34	66
2019	35	56
2019	36	42
2019	37	70
2019	38	78
2019	39	50
2019	40	55
2019	41	61
2019	42	61
2019	43	38
2019	44	84
2019	45	58
2019	46	73
2019	47	64
2019	48	71
2019	49	68
2019	50	61
2019	51	79
2019	52	43
2020	1	22
2020	2	60
2020	3	58
2020	4	63
2020	5	71
2020	6	46
2020	7	102
2020	8	56
2020	9	54
2020	10	73
2020	11	60
2020	12	60
2020	13	44
2020	14	69
2020	15	89
2020	16	60
2020	17	98
2020	18	64
2020	19	48
2020	20	73
2020	21	69
2020	22	69
2020	23	64

Several weeks may pass between the date of filing for bankruptcy and the court decision. As of week 14, Dutch courts are granting a longer application period of at least four weeks in cases of a bankruptcy petition being made (i.e. by claimants), unless the procedures are deemed urgent. In addition, the Dutch government has established an emergency package for the economy and the job market in order to provide the proper support to Dutch businesses.

Figures published in this news release are provisional and subject to revision.

Trend slightly upwards since October 2018

Most bankruptcies recorded in trade sector

Week 23: 64 bankruptcies

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