In 2022, 9,265 companies were declared bankrupt in Belgium, according to statistics released on Thursday by Statbel, which represents an increase of 42% compared to 2021 (6,533 bankruptcies) but also a drop of 13% compared to 2019 (10,598 bankruptcies). ), a year when the shadow of the Covid did not yet hang over the economy. With 800 bankruptcies, the month of December confirms this annual trend.
However, the reality is to be nuanced according to the regions. Thus only the Flemish Region saw its number of bankruptcies recorded in 2022 increase compared to 2019. The 5,287 bankruptcies in this region also constitute the highest total since 2013 when 5,742 bankruptcies were recorded there.
Decrease in Wallonia and Brussels
In Wallonia, on the other hand, 2,202 companies went out of business, a drop of 18% compared to 2019. This is the third lowest result of the past ten years, behind the Covid years 2020 and 2021 .
As for the Brussels-Capital Region, it recorded 1,776 bankruptcies, i.e. 40% less than in 2019. Again, this places the year 2022 among the lowest behind 2020 and 2021.
At the sectoral level, the transport and warehousing, and agriculture and fishing sectors recorded an increase in the number of bankruptcies in 2022 compared to 2019. 577 transport and warehousing companies filed for bankruptcy in 2022 against 504 in 2019. This represents the highest number of the period 2012-2022. The agriculture and fishing sector recorded 80 bankruptcies in 2022, two more than in 2019 and the highest number in this sector since 2015 (104).