Global insurance premium volumes to reach new high in 2022: Swiss Re sigma report
Swiss Re Institute sigma 4/2022 – World insurance – by Senior Economists Fernando Casanova Aizpun & Rajeev Sharan, Head of Insurance Market Analysis Li Xing, and P&C Economic Research Lead Roman Lechner
Armonk, NY (July 13, 2022) – The global economy is slowing sharply and inflation is at a multi-decade high: we anticipate what we call “inflationary recessions” in many major economies over the next 12-18 months. Central banks are hiking interest rates, targeting price stability over economic growth. In our view, this is a notable positive to the current challenging conditions, on two fronts. It will help ward off 1970s-style stagflation. It also signals the end of the era of financial repression. For insurers, rising interest rates are a silver lining to the current inflation crisis, with investment returns set to improve.
We expect high inflation to remain for longer, and forecast higher rates of inflation for the 2020s decade than in the previous 10 years. In the case of China, we believe structural factors such as increased productivity and rising digitalisation, among others, will lead to lower trend inflation.
For insurers, the main inflation impact will show in rising claims costs, more in non-life than life insurance in which policy benefits are defined at inception. Motor and liability lines of business will likely be most immediately impacted. Accident, and motor and general liability will also be impacted, with inflation feeding into bodily injury claims.
We estimate strong 6.1% nominal growth in total premiums (non-life and life) in 2022. In real terms, however, that translates into near flat growth (+0.4%). Nevertheless, in nominal terms we expect total premiums volumes will exceed the USD 7 trillion mark for the first time ever this year. We base our estimation on strong market recovery from pandemic-induced lows, continued rate hardening in non-life, and stronger premium growth in emerging markets in particular.
Insurance remains a growing industry – and reaching the USD 7 trillion mark for global premiums shows is a major milestone. However, these are not easy times and the insurers will need to keep a close eye on inflation and economic growth
Jerome Jean Haegeli, Group Chief Economist, Swiss Re
In non-life, we expect inflation of exposure values and rate hardening will boost global premium growth. Commercial lines (including workers compensation) will continue to expand more than personal lines (including health). We estimate a 1.1% increase in commercial premiums in 2022, and a 3.1% gain in 2023, supported by rate hardening. Personal lines insurance premiums will expand by an estimated 0.5% in 2022, mainly on account of stagnation in advanced markets.
In life, we estimate that global premiums will contract slightly by 0.2% in real terms in 2022. Saving premiums, which represent more than three quarters of the life sector, will likely suffer from volatile financial market conditions and falling disposable incomes. Increased risk awareness will continue to support demand for life protection products.
Other takeaways of this sigma are:
We are below consensus on our economic growth forecasts for the US and euro area in 2023, and expect that high inflation will linger for a while yet.
Lines of business susceptible to higher claims as a result of the war in Ukraine include niche segments such as aviation, trade credit, political risk and marine insurance. Demand for cyber insurance could rise.
In non-life, we forecast a return to positive growth in real terms in 2023, with global premiums up 2.2%, based on ongoing rate hardening, mostly in commercial lines.
We expect the impact of high interest rates, stronger investment returns and improved underwriting results to start to show through in improved profitability next year.
Life premiums will grow by an estimated 1.9% in real terms next year, with heighted risk awareness post pandemic boosting demand for protection-type products, and as insurers increasingly go digital.
The impact of rising interest rates will likely show through in improved investment returns for life insurers in 2022 already, with a more significant boost in the medium- to longer terms.
The severity of COVID-19 claims may subside going into 2023 as the world adjusts to living with the virus. This too could support life sector profitability.
Get the publication: sigma 4/2022 – World Insurance: Inflation risks front and centre
About the Report
The world insurance sigma covers premiums written in the global primary insurance industry. Published annually, it has become one of the fixtures of the sigma programme since 1968, the publication’s inaugural year.
About Swiss Re
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 cyber crime. 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. For more information, please visit www.swissre.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements and illustrations contained herein are forward-looking. These statements (including as to plans, objectives, targets, and trends) and illustrations provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical fact or current fact. Further information on forward looking statements can be found in the Legal Notice section of Swiss Re’s website.
SOURCE: Swiss Re
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