10 June 2026

Mercantile Companies Statistics (MC)

April 2026. Provisional data

Main results

  • The number of mercantile companies created decreased by 2.0% in April compared with the same month in 2025.
  • The number of dissolved companies increased by 24.9% rated annually.

In April, 11,558 mercantile companies were created, 2.0% fewer than in the same month in 2025. The subscribed capital for incorporation recorded an annual increase of 20.2% and the average capital subscribed (44,399 euros) increased by 22.7%.

In addition, 2,666 companies increased their capital, 9.3% more than in April 2025. The subscribed capital in these increases rose by 71.4%.

The number of dissolved mercantile companies increased by 24.9% rated annually. 78.0% of them did so voluntarily

Mercantile companies created, increasing their capital and dissolved. April 2026

Results by main economic activity

19.3% of the mercantile companies created in April were engaged in Real Estate, Finance and Insurance and 16.1% in Construction. Regarding the dissolved companies, 18.9% correspond to Trade and 16.3% to Industry and Energy.

Mercantile companies created by main economic activity. April 2026

Percentage

Mercantile companies dissolved by main economic activity. April 2026

Percentage

The category according its economic activity with the largest subscribed capital of mercantile companies incorporated was Real estate, financial and insurance, with 284.40 million euros. In turn, Administrative and support service activities recorded the lowest figure for capital, with 7.13 million.

Capital subscribed of mercantile companies created by main economic activity. April. 2026

Thousands of euros

Results by Autonomous Community

La Rioja (41.9%), Principado de Asturias (39.6%) and Región de Murcia (23.3%) recorded the highest annual growth in the number of mercantile companies incorporated in April.

Meanwhile, Canarias (-9.4%), Comunidad de Madrid (-8.9%) and País Vasco (-8.4%) recorded the sharpest declines.

Annual variation in mercantile companies created by Autonomous Community. April 2026

Percentage

Data revisions and updates

The data for 2026 are provisional and will be reviewed when the data for the same period in 2027 are published. All the results of this operation are available at INEbase.

In accordance with the Commission's Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/137 the INE has begun to work on incorporating the new National Classification of Economic Activities CNAE-2025 in all its statistical operations.

In the case of Mercantile Companies, the first publication of results with CNAE-2025 will take place in March 2028.

Methodological note

The Mercantile Companies Statistics were created by Order of 30 April 1938. Their objective is to measure the demographics of companies, providing monthly information, at provincial and Autonomous Community level, on the companies incorporated, dissolved and those in which there have been changes in capital.

The source of information is the Central Mercantile Registry, which collects all provincial information on the registration of companies and entrepreneurs, as well as mercantile acts determined by law. 

Type of survey:
continuous monthly survey.
Population scope:
set of companies registered in the Central Mercantile Register.
Geographical scope:
the entire national territory, by Autonomous Communities and provinces.
Reference period of the results:
the calendar month.
Reference period of the information:
the calendar month.
Collection method:
official records.

More information on the methodology and the standardised methodological report.

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information on Quality at the INE and the Code of Best Practice.

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