Romania registers surge in new businesses and insolvencies in first half of 2026

The National Trade Register Office (ONRC) reported that registrations of individuals and legal entities rose 7.86% in the first six months of 2026, reaching 74,953 filings, including 41,491 limited liability companies (SRL). The highest registration numbers were recorded in Bucharest (17,492) and the Ilfov, Cluj, Timiș, Iași, Constanța and Bihor counties. Leading sectors were transport and storage (12,609 registrations, +6.36%), wholesale and retail trade (10,648, –10.84%) and professional, scientific and technical activities (7,891, +15.87%).

During the same period, the number of firms and authorized natural persons (PFA) entering insolvency grew 12.36% to 3,855, also according to ONRC data. Bucharest accounted for 725 insolvencies, the most in any county, followed by Bihor, Cluj, Timiș, Ilfov and Prahova. The bulk of insolvencies occurred in wholesale and retail trade (229 cases, +388.14%), construction (210, +412.20%), transport and storage (132, +266.67%) and manufacturing (128, +312.90%).