Economic performance in Germany continues to show a differentiated picture. While current surveys confirm a moderate increase in insolvencies, there is no question of a widespread collapse across the corporate landscape. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 2,067 corporate insolvencies were filed across the country in August 2026, representing a slight rise of 4.4 per cent compared with the same month of the previous year. The insolvency trend tracked by the IWH, Leibniz Institute for Economic Research Halle, recorded a total of 1,683 insolvencies of partnerships and corporations for October 2026. This represents an increase of 1 per cent compared with the previous month of September and a rise of 9 per cent compared with October 2025.
Dr Christoph Niering, insolvency administrator and chairman of the German Association of Insolvency Administrators and Trustees (VID), emphasises that there is no broad wave of insolvencies across the economy. Rather, public perception is largely shaped by prominent large-scale proceedings. According to Niering, high-profile restructuring cases such as battery manufacturer Varta with more than 3,000 employees or department store group Galeria with around 12,000 staff represent singular events that noticeably distort the overall statistical picture.
Structural pressures in exposed sectors
Irrespective of the general market situation, selected economic sectors face sustained transformation pressure. Alongside political framework conditions, climatic changes in particular are putting pressure on specific business models. In this context, Niering points to river cruise operators and ski tourism businesses, whose commercial foundations are increasingly eroding as a result of climate change. Such downturns have direct consequences for local retail and hospitality. Similar risks exist for automotive suppliers whose focus remains unilaterally on internal combustion engines.
In the view of the VID, the causes of corporate distress are therefore not solely to be found in global upheavals or the consequences of the war in Ukraine, but frequently in corporate structures that have failed to adapt adequately. Business leaders face the key challenge of realigning their business models early and sustainably in order to navigate structural change successfully.
Outlook and trouble spots in the healthcare sector
No fundamental turnaround in the trend is emerging for the coming months. Leading indicators from the IWH point to a slight decline in insolvency figures in November and December, and the VID does not anticipate dramatic spikes either. Nevertheless, relief remains absent in some segments. Healthcare is considered a persistent trouble spot: at many hospitals, the financial situation will worsen further, partly due to the Contribution Stabilisation Act, meaning insolvency is likely to remain the only way out for numerous institutions.
