The number of corporate bankruptcies in Sweden rose by 17% in October 2025, making it the toughest month of the year so far. According to Creditsafe’s bankruptcy statistics, the increase is mainly driven by small limited companies with no employees, while the retail sector is showing signs of recovery for the first time in a while.
Bankruptcies turn upward again
In October, 968 limited companies filed for bankruptcy, compared with 828 in the same month last year and 829 the year before. This represents the largest monthly rise so far in 2025.
On a year-to-date basis, the total number of bankruptcies now stands at 8,302, roughly on par with 2024.
“October marks a clear reversal after a quieter summer. The increase is worrying, especially because it comes from already historically high levels. At the same time, we see that the rise is largely driven by companies with very low or no turnover,” says Henrik Jacobsson, CEO of Creditsafe.
Small companies drive the increase
This month’s bankruptcies are dominated by small limited companies with low or no turnover. The share of such companies is significantly higher than in the same period last year.
Despite the rise in bankruptcies, the impact on the labor market remains limited — only 2,040 people were affected, which is 21% fewer than in 2024.
Construction and transport under pressure — retail recovers
The largest increases in October were seen in consultancies (+65%), haulage companies (+44%), and car repair shops (+38%).
The construction sector (+24%) and the hotel & restaurant sector (+11%) also showed notable increases.
Retail, however, bucks the trend with a decline in bankruptcies within:
- e-commerce (−43%),
- wholesale (−24%),
- and retail trade (−20%).
This points to a cautious recovery in the consumer sector.
Largest bankruptcies in October
The month’s largest bankruptcy was BRA Sverige AB (Bromma), reporting turnover of SEK 1.5 billion. The company is part of the same group as Braathens International Airways AB, which declared bankruptcy in September.
Other notable large bankruptcies include:
- LOGS Logistics AB – SEK 235 million, 43 employees (Skärholmen)
- Dahab AB – SEK 115 million, 7 employees (Helsingborg)
- Carvest AB – SEK 102 million (Stockholm)
- LH Ventteknik AB – SEK 101 million, 23 employees (Rönninge)
Half of large bankrupt companies had tax deferrals
The share of companies granted tax deferrals remains high.
Overall, 19% of the companies that went bankrupt in the month had been granted deferrals.
Among companies with turnover above SEK 10 million, the share was as high as 50%, indicating that tax deferrals remain a clear risk factor.
More newly formed companies despite challenges
Despite the rise in bankruptcies, new business formation continues to grow.
In October, 4,890 new limited companies were registered, an increase of 17% compared with October 2024.
Sweden now has over 800,000 active limited companies.
Bankruptcies by industry (Jan–Oct 2025)
| Industry | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car dealerships | 108 | 168 | 175 | 🔺 +4% (-10%) |
| Car repair shops | 199 | 241 | 253 | 🔺 +5% (38%) |
| Construction | 1,182 | 1,477 | 1,414 | 🟢 −4% (24%) |
| Retail trade | 778 | 825 | 880 | 🔺 +7% (−20%) |
| E-commerce | 161 | 228 | 216 | 🟢 −5% (−43%) |
| Property companies | 153 | 284 | 268 | 🟢 −6% (−12%) |
| Hotel & Restaurant | 581 | 682 | 771 | 🔺 +13% (11%) |
| Industry | 245 | 329 | 307 | 🟢 −7% (−5%) |
| Consultancies | 497 | 675 | 707 | 🔺 +5% (65%) |
| Wholesale | 368 | 415 | 387 | 🟢 −7% (−24%) |
| Haulage | 132 | 193 | 224 | 🔺 +16% (44%) |
Source: Creditsafe – Bankruptcy statistics, October 2025
Largest bankruptcies in October
| Company | Turnover SEK thousands | Employees | Location | |
| 1 | BRA Sverige AB | 1,584,577 | 0 | BROMMA |
| 2 | LOGS Logistics AB | 235,780 | 43 | SKÄRHOLMEN |
| 3 | Dahab AB | 115,547 | 7 | HELSINGBORG |
| 4 | Carvest AB | 102,465 | 0 | STOCKHOLM |
| 5 | LH Ventteknik Aktiebolag | 101,495 | 23 | RÖNNINGE |
| 6 | Line Textile Möbler AB | 84,145 | 20 | ÖVERUM |
| 7 | Xshore Production AB | 78,204 | 74 | BROMMA |
| 8 | Fruitconnect AB | 69,769 | 3 | ÖREBRO |
| 9 | TJF Entreprenad AB | 68,327 | 3 | BORÅS |
| 10 | Oirps AB | 50,853 | 135 | TYRESÖ |
About the statistics
Creditsafe’s bankruptcy statistics cover Swedish limited companies and are published on the first business day of each month.
Figures are updated on the morning of publication, so bankruptcies registered late are included in the statistics.
For more details, consult Creditsafe’s official statistics.