Austrian corporate insolvencies stay near last year’s level

Austria is on course for around 5,140 corporate insolvencies in the first three quarters of 2026, just 0.4 percent more than in the same period last year, ORF reported, citing a forecast presented by the Kreditschutzverband KSV1870 on Wednesday.

Retail, construction, hospitality and accommodation businesses were particularly affected. KSV1870 said 43 percent of insolvency proceedings were not opened because there was not enough capital to cover the costs. On average, 19 businesses filed for insolvency each day this year.

Preliminary liabilities stood at around 6 billion euros as of September 9, 7 percent below last year’s figure. However, 15,700 employees were affected, an increase of 4.7 percent, while the number of creditors rose by 8.7 percent to 36,300.

KSV1870 expects around 6,800 corporate insolvencies for the full year, broadly matching the 2025 level.

Personal insolvencies rise sharply

Personal insolvencies increased significantly during the first three quarters. KSV1870 expects 7,390 opened debt settlement proceedings, up 10.7 percent from the same period last year. That amounted to 27 people filing for insolvency each day.

The creditors’ protection association said the increase was mainly because the option of completing debt relief within three years expired in mid-July. Karl-Heinz Götze of KSV1870 said the strained economic situation had also been expected to drive up personal insolvencies.

Preliminary liabilities in personal insolvencies rose by 20 percent to 1.1 billion euros since the beginning of the year. KSV1870 expects around 9,300 opened proceedings by the end of 2026.