A significant spike in company bankruptcies was recorded in September. Courts registered 1,195 instances, marking a 174.1% increase from August's 436 bankruptcies, according to the Belgian statistical office Statbel on Friday.
This is the highest September figure since 2013 when 1,322 bankruptcies were noted.
September 2024 saw a 20.8% rise in bankruptcies compared to the same month last year and a 23.5% increase from 2022.
All regions experienced this monthly surge. In Wallonia and the Brussels-Capital Region, bankruptcies also increased compared to September 2023 and 2022, hitting the highest number for a September in Wallonia since 2014 (341 compared to 338).
The rise in bankruptcies spanned all sectors. The construction industry was particularly affected, with 306 bankruptcies last month, the highest ever for a September in this sector, surpassing the previous record of 241 in 2022.
