In Russia, the reduction in the number of enterprises has intensified against the backdrop of tax increases, expensive loans, and deteriorating business conditions. In the first nine months of 2026, 208.5 thousand organizations ceased operations in the country, while the number of newly registered ones was almost half as many - about 109 thousand.
Russian media reported this on November 12, after analyzing data from Rosstat.
Thus, for January-September, the number of registered companies in Russia decreased by about 100 thousand. Compared to the same period in 2025, the situation worsened: last year 140.5 thousand enterprises were opened, and about 206 thousand ceased operations.
The negative trend continued in September as well. During the month, 11.7 thousand new companies were registered in Russia, while 21.7 thousand organizations closed down.
The largest reduction in the number of enterprises is observed in trade and construction. In the wholesale and retail trade sector, 68.5 thousand companies closed in nine months, while only 31.6 thousand opened. In construction, the number of ceased registrations reached almost 29 thousand against 14.3 thousand new ones.
The only industry where the number of new enterprises exceeded the number of closed ones was mining. In this sector, 786 companies were registered, and 776 ceased operations.
Experts attribute the worsening situation to rising business costs and increased tax burden. In particular, in 2025 Russia raised the corporate profit tax to 25%, and from the beginning of 2026 the VAT rate increased from 20% to 22%.
Additional pressure comes from high lending rates, rising rent, logistics, and raw materials. According to Ivan Efremenkov, deputy executive director of the organization "Opora Russia", the average monthly number of registrations of new companies this year is about 30% lower than last year.
At the same time, statistics on cessation of activities cover not only companies that closed due to financial difficulties. The Russian tax service excludes some legal entities from the register in an administrative procedure, particularly due to lack of activity or unreliable information. Therefore, the given figures cannot be equated with the number of bankruptcies.
Analysts interviewed by the publication do not expect a rapid recovery of entrepreneurial activity. In their opinion, even a possible reduction in the cost of loans will not immediately improve the situation of businesses, as the financial reserves of some companies are gradually being exhausted.
