Belgian SME bankruptcies on track for decade high, rate tops 1%

Belgian SME bankruptcies are projected to hit a decade high in 2026, with Unizo estimating 11,486 failures among micro-firms (0-9 employees) and 379 among small firms (10-49 employees) based on January-July Statbel data. The bankruptcy rate is expected to exceed 1% for the first time in years, signaling sustained stress in the small-business sector. This reflects ongoing economic fragility in Belgium, though the macro impact is limited given the SME focus.