The Ministry of Justice and the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (STATEC) have published their latest report on business insolvencies.
Their findings show that while there was a slight uptick in bankruptcies between July and September 2026, with 236 companies declared bankrupt compared to 230 during the same period in 2025, the overall number for the first nine months of the year remains lower than last year.
From January to the end of September, 790 bankruptcy rulings were recorded, a 2.1% decrease from the 807 cases seen a year earlier.
The impact on employment has also lessened. A total of 1,943 potential job losses have been linked to these bankruptcies since January, compared to 2,256 over the same period in 2025.
Holdings and investment funds continue to be the most affected sector, accounting for 194 bankruptcies, followed by retail (135), construction (124), and hospitality (77).
Notably, construction has been especially hard hit, representing roughly one-third of all job losses stemming from insolvencies.
The number of voluntary company liquidations has followed a similar trend, falling by 35% over the first three quarters of the year. This decline has been most pronounced among holding companies and investment funds.
A bankruptcy occurs when a business is no longer able to meet its financial obligations and is placed under court supervision to wind down operations.
In contrast, a liquidation is a voluntary decision by company management to close the business, even if the firm is not facing financial distress.
In short, bankruptcy is a forced process due to insolvency, while liquidation is an organised closure initiated by the company itself.
