Historically low number of bankruptcies in 2021

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© Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that, adjusted for court session days, there were 30 fewer corporate bankruptcies in December than in November 2021. With the December figure being known, the figure for the entire year can also be provided. The total number of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) filing for bankruptcy in 2021 stood at 1,536. This is the second lowest number since the start of the survey in 1981.

Number of bankruptcies of businesses and institutions (excluding sole proprietorships) adjusted for court sessions days
YearWeekNumber of bankruptcies
2018January273
2018February232
2018March266
2018April266
2018May259
2018June248
2018July251
2018August257
2018September224
2018October264
2018November277
2018December328
2019January286
2019February254
2019March277
2019April281
2019May264
2019June271
2019July274
2019August261
2019September257
2019October253
2019November288
2019December243
2020January270
2020February273
2020March261
2020April338
2020May267
2020June233
2020July207
2020August177
2020September186
2020October172
2020November180
2020December139
2021January142
2021February114
2021March145
2021April125
2021May131
2021June121
2021July109
2021August99
2021September118
2021October109
2021November167
2021December137

Bankruptcies at a historically low level

The number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships), adjusted for court session days, fluctuates significantly. Ups and downs alternate in rapid succession. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (816); it subsequently declined continuously until August 2017 inclusive and then became fairly stable up until mid-2020. The trend has been downward again since then. In August 2021, the number of bankruptcies (on a monthly basis) reached its lowest level since January 1991. The number of bankruptcies was also low in the months that followed.

Number of bankrupties in 2021 down by 43 percent year-on-year

Over the entire year 2021, a total of 1,536 corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships) were pronounced. This represents a year-on-year decrease of 43 percent. Many companies were affected by the coronavirus crisis in 2021 as well, but the number of bankruptcies was at almost the lowest level since the start of the survey in 1981. Only in 1990 was the number of bankruptcies (1,527) slightly lower than in 2021.

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. However, the number of bankruptcies has decreased again since then. In 2021, it was at the lowest level in 31 years. The fact that fewer companies were declared bankrupt in times of coronavirus cannot be seen in isolation from the government support.

Number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships)
 Number
20002621
20013333
20024085
20035235
20045267
20055083
20064228
20073589
20083842
20096942
20106162
20116117
20127349
20138376
20146645
20155271
20164399
20173291
20183145
20193209
20202703
20211536

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 292, from 581 in 2020 to 289 in 2021. In retail trade, wholesale and trade and repair of motor vehicles, the number of bankruptcies dropped by 146, 132 and 14 respectively.

In addition, the number of bankruptcies in the accommodation and food services sector fell from 235 in 2020 to 97 in 2021. In accommodation services (including hotels), it fell by 29 and in food and beverage services (including restaurants and cafes) by 109. In 2020, the accommodation and food services sector faced the sharpest increase in bankruptcies (39) of all industries. Especially at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, relatively many businesses went bankrupt.

Just as in previous years, most bankruptcies were pronounced in the trade sector (289) in 2020. Trade is among the sectors with the highest number of businesses.

Number of corporate bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships) by sector
Sector20212020
Trade289581
Construction198253
Financial services188312
Specialised business services187292
Renting and other business services117220
Transportation and storage97188
Accommodation and food services97235
Manufacturing94200
Information and communication7385
Care6481
Real estate activities2842
Arts, sports and recreation2273
Other service activities2257
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries1217
Education1038

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