In July 2020, 484 enterprises were declared bankrupt in Belgium.
The bankruptcies registered in July resulted in 1,061 job losses: 568 full-time jobs, 311 part-time jobs and 182 salaried employers.
These are the sectors with the highest number of bankruptcies in July: 172 bankruptcies in the transport sector, 110 in the sector of accommodation and food service activities, 109 in wholesale and retail trade and 73 in construction.
At regional level, there were 257 bankruptcies in Flanders, 134 in Wallonia and 93 in Brussels.
When interpreting the figures, account should be taken of the fact that there is some delay between the cessation of the economic activity and the declaration of bankruptcy by the business court. As a result, an economic impact is only visible in the figures with some delay.
Because of the measures taken during the Covid-19 crisis and the related lockdown, business courts and registries limited their activities until 18 May. Furthermore, until 17 June 2020, a temporary moratorium was in force in order to protect the enterprises that were in good health before 18 March 2020 against the consequences of the Covid-19 crisis.
In the meantime, the business courts have gradually resumed their activities, but for the months of July and August, the judicial summer recess must be taken into account when interpreting the figures. During this period, although the courts remain open, there are fewer hearings.
Consequently, the current figures should not be considered as a reliable measure of the actual economic situation.