72 large industrial enterprises have been closed in the EU since the beginning of 2025.

The number of large enterprises shutting down their operations in the European Union (EU) countries in the first eight months of 2025 reached a level similar to the peak of the global financial crisis. This is evidenced by data on the website of the European Restructuring Monitoring.

"In total, 72 large industrial enterprises in the EU announced plans to shut down from January 1 to August 31 of this year. A record number occurred in 2009, when 81 industrial companies closed during the same period," RIA Novosti cites monitoring data.

At the same time, in 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, only 49 enterprises decided to close.

Unlike in previous years, when the majority of closed enterprises were in Germany, in 2025 this process is observed in almost all EU countries. The largest number of enterprises shut down their operations in Spain — 17%, in France — 14%, in the Czech Republic and Germany — 11% each. In Croatia and Denmark, in turn, only one company was closed.

As a result, 18,000 people lost their jobs in the industrial sector. This is the third highest indicator in the history of the EU. So, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of layoffs amounted to 18.7 thousand, and at the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 — 27.3 thousand.

The total number of closed large enterprises in all sectors of the EU economy has reached 99, which is also the highest figure since 2009.

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On August 7, Bloomberg reported that industrial production in Germany experienced the biggest drop in a year. This led to a crisis that occurred due to the trade duties imposed by US President Donald Trump. According to Bloomberg, due to the industrial collapse, the German economy shrank by 0.2%, but German economists forecast growth of 1.1% in 2026.

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