Swiss Re sigma study: insurance industry on the road to recovery
24 Jun 2004
The direct insurance industry is on the road to recovery with further progress expected this year, according to Swiss Re's latest sigma study. Worldwide premiums for life and non-life insurance grew by an inflation-adjusted 2% to USD 2 941 billion in 2003. sigma's annual review of developments in world insurance shows premiums and results in non-life business increased markedly in 2003. Life insurers reported improved profitability despite a slight decline in premium income. The recovery is set to continue in 2004.
Thomas Hess, Head of Economic Research & Consulting at Swiss Re, commented: "Both the direct life and non-life insurance industries are experiencing a turn-around following the turbulent financial markets and extreme loss events of past years. The expected growth in premiums and profits this year should speed up this process."
According to the sigma study, global premium income for direct insurers in 2003 totalled USD 2 941 billion, up 2% compared with the previous year. As in past years, the life and non-life sectors showed conflicting trends. In 2003 non-life insurance premiums rose 6% to USD 1 268 billion while life insurance premiums fell 0.8% to USD 1 673 billion. Industrialised countries generated just under 90% of the premium volume, with emerging markets accounting for around 10%.
Global premium growth 1980 - 2003
Life insurance: falling premiums, less pressure on balance sheets and income statements
The 0.8% decline in life premiums in 2003 reflects falls in life business in the US and UK, as well as below-average growth recorded in other industrialised countries and a number of emerging markets. Consumers remained cautious about buying unit-linked policies and traditional products due to a lack of confidence in the sustainability of the stock market recovery and the decrease in profit sharing and guaranteed returns. The erosion in equity capital of previous years - precipitated by investment writedowns on equity holdings and corporate bonds - has forced a large number of life insurers to reduce their with-profit payouts and guaranteed returns.
Life insurers' balance sheets improved against a backdrop of improved economic conditions. Although investment income remained below average, the pressure exerted by writedowns on corporate bonds and equity holdings relaxed. Cost savings and business restructurings contributed to the improvement in results. Life insurers' equity bases stabilised, indicating that the outlook is brighter for the life insurance industry.
Non-life insurance: premium growth and improved results
Albeit at a slower pace than in the previous year, the 6% growth reported in non-life insurance was twice as high as the ten-year average, with price increases in virtually all regions. Following the increases in property rates of previous years, substantial rate rises were registered, particularly in third party liability. Since 2000 non-life premium income has grown at a cumulative real rate of 22%, mainly on the back of an increase in premium rates.
Rate increases together with more stringent underwriting standards, and comparatively few extreme losses resulted in a marked improvement in non-life underwriting results in 2003. However, investment results remained poor and overall profits are likely to be average. Although insurers' equity capital bases improved, capital remained scarce.
Outlook for 2004: the recovery is set to continue
The pick-up in the global economy and the expected rise in both interest rates and stock markets are set to further improve conditions for life insurers and spur demand in life and non-life business. Price-driven growth in non-life insurance will slow as rates gradually stabilise. Premium growth for direct insurers will consequently be less pronounced than in 2003. Assuming average claims levels in 2004, results may well improve further. Life insurers' equity capital and profits should witness some sustained recovery given the improved conditions.
Swiss Re sigma study "World insurance in 2003" examines the insurance markets of 152 countries, making explicit reference to 88.
Notes for editors
Swiss Re is one of the world's leading reinsurers and the world's largest life and health reinsurer. The company operates through more than 70 offices in 30 countries. Swiss Re has been in the reinsurance business since its foundation in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1863. Through its three business groups Property & Casualty, Life & Health and Financial Services, Swiss Re offers a wide variety of products to manage capital and risk. Traditional reinsurance products, including a broad range of property and casualty as well as life and health covers and related services, are complemented by insurance-based corporate finance solutions and supplementary services for comprehensive risk management. Swiss Re is rated "AA" by Standard & Poor's, "Aa2" by Moody's and "A+" by AM Best.
How to obtain a copy of the sigma catastrophe study:
The English, German, French, Spanish and Italian versions of the sigma study "World insurance in 2003: insurance industry on the road to recovery" are available electronically on our sigma section.
Printed editions of sigma No. 3/2004 can now be ordered. English and German versions are currently available, those in French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese and Japanese will be available soon. Please send your orders, complete with your full postal address to:
| E-mail: | sigma@swissre.com | |
| Zurich: | Tel. +41 43 285 2551, | Fax +41 43 285 4749 |
| New York: | Tel. +1 212 317 5135, | Fax +1 212 317 5455 |
| Hong Kong: | Tel. +852 25 82 5691, | Fax +852 25 11 6603 |
This media release is also distributed by e-mail. To receive your copy, please contact sigma@swissre.com
Contacts:
Roman Lechner, Zurich, tel. + 41 43 285 2344
Thomas Holzheu, New York, tel.+ 1 212 317 5190
Clarence Wong, Hong Kong, tel.+ 852 2582 5644
Group Media Relations, Zurich, tel.+41 43 285 7171
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