Global insurance markets set to rebound with China leading recovery, says Swiss Re Institute

  • Global insurance premiums expected to grow by 3.4% in real terms in 2021, after contracting an estimated 1.4% in 2020
  • China will lead recovery with premiums up by an estimated 10% in non-life next year, and by 8.5% in life
  • Insurance recovery supported by heightened risk awareness driving demand and continued strong rate hardening
  • Amid uncertainty of how the COVID-19 crisis will evolve, and the risk of trade war and a credit crisis, public policy should focus on sustainable infrastructure development and inclusive growth

World gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to contract by 4.1% this year in what is so far the deepest recession of our lifetimes. The latest sigma study, “Rebuilding better: global economic and insurance market outlook 2021/22“, predicts that recovery will be slow and uneven in 2021. Global GDP is forecast to grow by 4.7% in 2021 in real terms, below the market expectation of 5.2% growth. In this context, the sigma study finds that, amid the economic shock inflicted by COVID-19, global insurance markets have been less severely impacted than expected in the Swiss Re Institute June 2020 forecast. Total premium volumes in 2020 are estimated to decline by 1.4% in real terms, less than the earlier anticipated 2.8% drop. Premium growth is forecast to recover swiftly to 3.4% and 3.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively, supported by continued rate hardening.

Looking at countries’ economic resilience levels, the pandemic will impact each economy depending on its capacity to absorb shocks and its government policy. Preliminary data suggest fiscal responses will be the key differentiator. Among the large advanced economies, the UK, Japan and the US are expected to see their fiscal buffers depleted most.

Income inequalities will further widen as many lower paid jobs were cut in the downturn and labour markets will be more severely impacted than official data indicate. For example, the official euro-area unemployment rate has remained surprisingly steady at around 7.9%. The shadow unemployment rate, however, which takes into consideration inactive and furloughed workers as well as the officially unemployed, has reached almost 25% in Europe’s four largest economies: Germany, UK, France and Italy.

“For sustainable economic recovery, we need a policy reset. Public policy should focus on areas such as infrastructure, technology and climate. Building new sustainable infrastructure will have a significant impact on GDP growth,“ said Jerome Jean Haegeli, Swiss Re Group Chief Economist.

“In addition to smarter spending, policymakers should make more use of public-private partnerships and establish the operational and regulatory frameworks to enable greater participation of private-sector finance, including insurers’ assets, in the real economy,“ Haegeli said.

The insurance industry can contribute to more inclusive growth by broadening its digital reach as more people go online for their daily needs. Data analytics will help insurers understand customer needs and enable them to provide more tailored and affordable offerings, such as pay-as-you-go covers. With access to financial compensation according to need, households and businesses can better withstand loss events, which increases resilience by enhancing the underlying capacity of an economy to absorb shocks.

In the face of adversity, insurance markets hold up well

Insurance demand in the advanced markets fared better than expected over the first half of 2020. Hence, having initially anticipated stagnation in its June forecast, Swiss Re Institute now estimates that global non-life premiums will grow by 1.1% this year and recover to an average annual 3.6% growth in 2021 and 2022. Volumes are expected to already be back above pre-pandemic levels by the end of next year. Advanced market non-life premiums are forecast to grow by close to 3% in both 2021 and 2022, led by advanced Asia and the US, where a hard market in commercial insurance will boost premiums. China will remain the fastest growing market with premiums up an estimated 10% annually over the next two years, largely thanks to a strong health business. The other emerging markets will see aggregate premium growth of nearly 4% annually.

The life market has been harder hit in this year’s economic downturn, with global premiums forecast to contract by 4.5% in the environment of rising joblessness and less purchasing power. This is also a lesser fall than the 6% decline forecast in June thanks to a stronger-than-expected market growth in the US. The low interest rate environment has weighed on the sector as it has made savings-type products less attractive. Nevertheless, in life too, Swiss Re Institute predicts a swift return to 3% trend growth in 2021 on the back of economic recovery. The rebound will be led by the emerging markets, primarily emerging Asia, with premiums forecast to increase by 6.9% in 2021 (and by 8.5% in China). Increased risk awareness post COVID-19 will be a main driver of sector recovery. A Swiss Re survey conducted after the virus outbreak indicates the increased intention of consumers to buy mortality and health insurance1. Another driver will be fast adoption of digital insurance.

Rate hardening to continue

Pricing in non-life insurance strengthened again this year, supporting the market’s overall resilience in terms of growth and profitability.

“Market conditions from both the demand and supply sides point to continued pricing strength,“ said Andreas Berger, Chief Executive Officer of Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. “The low interest rate environment and the ongoing social inflation in the US will be key drivers of market hardening.“

The upswing has broadened across commercial lines of business and in almost all regions. Casualty business, which had remained soft until 2018, also started to improve this year, notably in the US and Europe. Rate hardening will likely continue through 2021.

 1Swiss Re COVID-19 Consumer Survey: Financial anxiety, demand for insurance products accelerates across APAC, Swiss Re, 28 April 2020.

Further regional insights

Further Information

North America non-life

  • Non-life premiums are forecast to grow by 1.4% in real terms in 2020, better than the 0.3% contraction predicted in June.
  • Strong rate hardening across all commercial line rates has supported growth and profitability this year.
  • Personal lines business has been weak, with increasing rate pressure and premium give-backs in motor, dragging down growth.
  • COVID-19-related losses disclosed so far remain in line with market expectations, but uncertainty around associated claims in property is still high.
  • Overall sector profitability has remained subdued in 2020 due to lower investment returns. Reduced COVID-19-related claims frequency during lockdowns have been supportive for motor.
  • We predict rate hardening will continue well into 2021, supporting overall market growth of 2.6% and improving profitability.

North America life

  • The market in North America held up better than expected in the first half, leading SRI to revise up its forecast for 2020 full year to a premium contraction of 2.6% (vs contraction of 7.7% projected in June).
  • Disruptions to distribution due to lockdowns were less severe than initially anticipated, and rising risk awareness has shored up demand for protection products.
  • Recovery in the US is expected to be slow as the high number of COVID-19 cases continues to depress economic activity and employment. Life premiums are expected to be stagnant in 2021, before growth improves to below-trend 1.2% in 2022, in real terms.
  • Return on equity (RoE) in North America has been the lowest out of all regions. The weighted average RoE almost halved to 5.1% in the first half, mainly driven by poor investment performance (realised losses).
  • Most life insurers maintain strong capital and liquidity positions.

Western Europe non-life

  • Premiums are expected to contract by 0.5%, much less than the 1.6% decline SRI had forecast in June.
  • Broad-based hardening in commercial lines, particularly in the UK, has supported the market as exposures have fallen significantly in this year's steep recession.
  • Personal lines are relatively stable, even with a decline in UK motor.
  • COVID-19-related property claims are concentrated in select markets (e.g. UK, France and Switzerland) due to issues with weak policy wordings/exclusions
  • Overall underwriting performance in Europe improved slightly in the first half of 2020 compared to the full-year 2019. Significantly lower claims, notably in motor, offset higher business interruption losses.
  • Rate hardening in commercial lines business will likely support above-trend premium growth in 2021, forecast at 3.1%.

Western Europe life

  • Premiums in advanced EMEA will fall by close to 10% in 2020 due to the recession, and are expected to return to trend growth of 3.6% in 2021. Ultra-low interest rates will drag on demand for savings products.
  • Realised investment losses due to bond and stock market volatility has hit the sector profitability. The weighted average return on equity (RoE) of European life insurers dropped 2.2 percentage points in the first half of 2020 to 6.3%.
  • Second-half results will likely be stronger. Most insurers maintain positive RoE and strong capital and liquidity positions.

Asia non-life

  • China remains the world's fastest growing market. Non-life premiums are forecast to grow by 8.1% in 2020, with double-digit growth in health lines.
  • Premiums in advanced Asia-Pacific are forecast to grow by 0.6% in 2020, with stagnation elsewhere in emerging Asia.
  • In Australia, higher business interruption impact, natural catastrophe and liability claims drove combined ratios higher. Elsewhere, COVID-19 insurance payments are very limited and the industry has profited from significantly lower claims in motor and accident insurance.
  • In China, underwriting performance will likely be under pressure due to liberalisation in motor insurance, which will spark price competition.
  • Non-life premiums in China are forecast to grow by 10% annually in both 2021 and 2022. De-tariffication in motor is expected to drag via lower rates, but government policy will support growth in other lines.
  • Premium growth is expected to strengthen across the rest of Asia-Pacific, with a projected rebound to 2.8% growth in 2021 (0.6% in 2020) in the advanced markets, and 5.7% in 2021 (0.1% in 2020) in the region's emerging markets.

Asia life

  • Premiums in the advanced Asian markets are forecast to contract by 3.3% in real terms in 2020, mainly due to disruptions to distribution in the first half. A swift rebound to above-trend growth of 2.6% is forecast in 2021.
  • Emerging Asia is estimated to post a premium growth of 1.4% in 2020, mainly supported by a positive growth momentum in China due to its quick recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. Excluding China, premium growth is estimated to be stagnant in 2020.
  • In China, premium growth will accelerate to 8.5% in 2021, supported by increased risk awareness and fast adoption of digital distribution channels. Emerging Asia premiums are forecast to grow by 8% in 2021.
  • Realised investment losses hit sector profitability in the first half of 2020, with the weighted average return on equity (RoE) down 2.2 percentage points to 9.4%.
  • Ongoing low interest rates will pressure investment returns and overall profitability. Nevertheless, most life insurers maintain positive RoE, and strong capital and liquidity positions.

  

Notes to editors

The Swiss Re Group is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. It anticipates and manages risk – from natural catastrophes to climate change, from ageing populations to cybercrime. The aim of the Swiss Re Group is to enable society to thrive and progress, creating new opportunities and solutions for its clients. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, where it was founded in 1863, the Swiss Re Group operates through a network of around 80 offices globally. It is organised into three Business Units, each with a distinct strategy and set of objectives contributing to the Group’s overall mission.

How to order this sigma study:

The English version of the sigma 7/2020, “Rebuilding better: global economic and insurance market outlook 2021/22“, is available in electronic format. You can download it here: https://www.swissre.com/institute/research/sigma-research/sigma-2020-07.

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