German insolvencies: highest July figure in 13 years – IWH expects relief
2,373 companies filed for insolvency in July, 8 percent more than a year earlier. According to the IWH, insolvencies also rose in September – but the institute sees a turnaround in Q4.
Archive image · Photo: Brühl / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
The number of corporate insolvencies in Germany remains high. In July, local courts registered 2,373 company insolvency filings, 8.0 percent more than in July 2025, according to the Federal Statistical Office. The last time the July figure was higher was 13 years ago. From January to July, corporate insolvencies totalled 15,185, an increase of 6.9 percent.
Transport and storage was hit hardest with 85.5 cases per 10,000 companies, followed by hospitality at 70.0 and construction at 62.9. The average was 42.8. Creditor claims, however, fell to around 21.9 billion euros from 31.8 billion a year earlier, because more economically significant firms were affected in 2025. Consumer insolvencies fell by 5.9 percent to 7,111 in July.
More recent figures from the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle (IWH) show 1,666 insolvencies of partnerships and corporations in September, 13 percent more than a year earlier. In the third quarter, however, the number fell by 2.3 percent from the previous quarter to 4,880. "Overall, falling insolvency numbers can be expected for the fourth quarter," said IWH research director Steffen Müller. The German Chamber of Commerce and Industry points to high energy and staff costs as well as bureaucracy and is calling for faster reforms.