Allianz Trade reports surge in French business failures in Q2 2026

Allianz Trade, the global credit‑insurance leader, published its latest study showing that corporate insolvencies in France rose sharply in the second quarter of 2026. The number of company failures reached a historic high of 18,004 cases in Q2 and 37,298 in the first half of the year, a 5 % increase over the same period in 2025. The report notes that larger firms remain heavily affected, with combined revenues of the failing companies at €38.7 billion, up 17 % year‑on‑year.

The regional analysis highlights a 24 % year‑on‑year rise in failures in Auvergne‑Rhône‑Alpes, led by the Rhône department which alone accounts for 29 % of regional cases and posted a 29 % increase. Other departments such as Puy‑de‑Dôme (+50 %), Savoie (+41 %) and Haute‑Loire (+138 %) also saw sharp upticks, while Ain and Cantal experienced modest declines.

All sectors are affected, with construction insolvencies rising 8 % locally (against a 2 % national decline), and tertiary, hospitality and retail also registering double‑digit growth. Maxime Lemerle, head of failure research at Allianz Trade, warned that the outlook remains “durably high” amid weak economic conditions, elevated inflation, high interest rates and geopolitical uncertainties, projecting over 70,000 corporate failures in France by the end of 2026.