Survey Shows Record-High Number of Corporate Bankruptcies in Japan from April to September

智通财经2026/10/08 10:36

Show original

According to data released by Tokyo Shoko Research on the 8th, the number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan reached its highest level since 2013 during the first half of fiscal year 2026 (April to September 2026). The statistics show that 5,373 companies with liabilities exceeding 10 million yen (with 1 US dollar equivalent to about 158 yen) went bankrupt, marking a year-on-year increase of 3.8%—the fifth straight year of growth. The total liabilities of these companies surged by 23.5% year-on-year, reaching 856.169 billion yen. Among the 10 industries surveyed, 6 sectors experienced a year-on-year rise in bankruptcies. The service sector saw the highest number of bankruptcies at 1,828 cases, up 3.7% year-on-year, followed by the construction sector with 1,035 cases. In terms of causes, 240 bankruptcies were attributed to labor shortages, up 17.1% year-on-year and hitting a record high; 436 bankruptcies were caused by rising prices, up 17.8% year-on-year. Looking ahead, Tokyo Shoko Research stated that the number of bankruptcies may further increase in the second half of the fiscal year due to rising interest rates and increased demand for corporate funds as year-end approaches. In September, the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to around 1.25%. According to calculations by Teikoku Databank after this rate hike, if corporate loan rates rise by another 0.25 percentage points from current levels, each company would see an average annual increase of 460,000 yen in interest expenses, and operating profit would decline by an average of 1.9%. (Xinhua News Agency)

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.