Q2 2024: Global Insurance Market Overview

Q2 2024: Global Insurance Market Overview
August 7, 2024 10 mins

Q2 2024: Global Insurance Market Overview

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With many insurers reporting healthy profits in 2023, and in response to notable improvements in the reinsurance market, the insurance market in Q2 2024 remained growth-oriented.

Key Takeaways
  1. Competition fueled by insurer growth ambitions led to buyer-friendly Property market conditions for the majority of risks.
  2. US Casualty exposures on both domestic and international placements continued to come under scrutiny given prior year reserve deterioration and ongoing concerns related to nuclear verdicts and adverse litigation trends.
  3. The D&O and Cyber market environments were characterized by healthy competition and abundant capacity.

Growth-oriented market creates opportunities for buyers

With many insurers reporting healthy profits in 2023, and in response to notable improvements in the reinsurance market, the insurance market in Q2 2024 remained growth-oriented yet disciplined as insurer strategies focused on underwriting and pricing for longer-term profitability and program stability. Insurer growth ambitions continued to translate into a competitive, well capitalized market environment characterized by continued price moderation, underwriting flexibility, and the availability of coverage options, especially for preferred risk types.

Specific trends we observed in Q2 include:

  • Competition fueled by insurer growth ambitions led to buyer-friendly Property market conditions for the majority of risks. The US market, in particular, experienced its most favorable conditions in almost seven years. Desirable risks with profitable historical loss ratios experienced pricing outcomes ranging from single digit increases to low double digit decreases while risks in the Nordics, Brazil and Mexico, as well as certain high-risk sectors, experienced more challenging market conditions and less favorable placement outcomes.
  • US Casualty exposures on both domestic and international placements continued to come under scrutiny given prior year reserve deterioration and ongoing concerns related to nuclear verdicts and adverse litigation trends. US-exposed and heavy industry risks experienced rate increases, more restrictive terms and conditions, and higher Umbrella attachment points. Well performing risks and those without US exposures generally saw healthy competition as insurers sought growth.
  • The Directors & Officers (D&O) and Cyber market environments were characterized by healthy competition and abundant capacity, although some D&O insurers with a strong focus on program stability were less inclined to decrease prices, particularly in high excess layers. Despite rising claims, the Cyber insurance market remained buyer-friendly with continued savings, particularly in high excess layers. Interest in Cyber insurance continues to broaden beyond the US and Europe with growing awareness of cyber incidents and capacity.

As a useful indicator of insurance market trends, reinsurance renewals in 2024 to date have seen a steady improvement, with increased capacity and reinsurer appetite leading to rate reductions for Property catastrophe risk and improvements in terms and coverage at mid-year. According to Aon’s latest Reinsurance Market Dynamics report, reinsurance capital reached a new record of $695 billion at the end of Q1 2024, driven by retained earnings, recovering asset values and new inflows to the catastrophe bond market (ILS capital increased to an all-time high of $110 billion in Q2).

Despite a well-capitalized insurance and reinsurance market, the landscape remains somewhat fragile. Natural catastrophe insured losses remain volatile with a record 37 events in 2023 exceeding $1 billion - while adverse reserve development and social inflation make for an uncertain Casualty outlook. A material deterioration in Casualty loss trends, and/or outsized natural catastrophe losses could materially impact future insurance and reinsurance market dynamics. We are monitoring forecasts, which are currently predicting an active Atlantic hurricane season for 2024.

Shocks aside, a capacity-rich market focused on sustainable growth and program stability is good for our clients, many of whom are taking advantage of the current market conditions by restoring coverages and limits that had been reduced during recent renewals. At the same time, the growing availability of sophisticated analytics is creating a synergistic positive effect by increasing client confidence that, in partnership with their Aon team, they are implementing the right mix of traditional and alternative risk solutions and the optimal coverage structures to support their shifting risk strategies.

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A capacity-rich market focused on sustainable growth and program stability is good for our clients, many of whom are taking advantage of the current market conditions by restoring coverages and limits.

Joe Peiser
Joe Peiser
Chief Executive Officer, Commercial Risk

Insurance Market Overview

Expand the options below to read a summary of how the insurance market trended in Q2 2024 across pricing, capacity, underwriting, limits, deductibles and coverages.

Q2 Market Dynamics
  Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
Asia Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
EMEA Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
Latin America Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
North America Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
Pacific Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
  • Pricing

    Insurer growth ambitions and healthy competition resulted in broadly flat pricing in Q2, as upward pressure on rates continued to moderate. Pockets of preferred and well-performing risks experienced decreased pricing, while less preferred and challenged risks continued to experience price increases, albeit at lower levels than previous quarters. Cyber and D&O experienced continued rate reductions, while Auto, US exposed Casualty risk and poor performing Property risks were subject to targeted increases as insurers continued to focus on underwriting profitability. Risk differentiation remained important, with insurers pricing accordingly.

  • Capacity

    Competition for quality risks further strengthened in Q2 amidst favorable reinsurance and alternative capital market conditions and as insurers focused on growing their portfolios at attractive rates. Capacity was broadly adequate, but abundant for preferred and well-performing risks which often experienced oversubscription. More challenged risks and sub-sectors continued to face capacity constraints.

  • Underwriting

    Despite insurer growth ambitions and strong competition, underwriting discipline continued as insurers sought to maintain profitability across their portfolios. While remaining prudent, underwriters demonstrated greater flexibility, especially where competitive pressure was strong. Risk differentiation remained a priority for insurers, with data, insights, and modelling central to underwriters’ decision-making. Underwriting was more rigorous for certain natural catastrophe-exposed risks, particularly related to Contingent Business Interruption, as well as US-exposed Casualty, and forever chemicals (PFAS). Detailed information – sometimes more than required in the past – continued to be requested.

  • Limits

    Most placements renewed with limits as expiring, but additional limits were available on targeted risks, and some insureds took advantage of the favorable market conditions by increasing their limits and exploring coverage and deductible options. Concern related to inflation and nuclear verdicts put upward pressure on casualty limits for risks with US exposures.

  • Deductibles

    Amidst a continued disciplined underwriting environment, most placements renewed with expiring deductibles. More challenged risks experienced upward pressure on deductible levels with attachment points coming under scrutiny. Insurers leveraged buffer layers, corridor deductibles and upward shifts in program position to manage their exposures. In some markets, deductible options were available, especially for non-catastrophe exposed well-performing risks and insureds continued to evaluate deductible options to optimize program design and manage premium costs.

  • Coverages

    Placements generally renewed with expiring terms and conditions; although insurers continued to leverage coverage terms as a differentiator, and coverage enhancements and long-term agreements, supported by quality underwriting data, were often available. Reflecting continued underwriting discipline, exclusions such as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), communicable disease, and strikes riots and civil commotion were generally required. Risks related to Ukraine, Russia, Eastern Europe and Myanmar were scrutinized and coverage for related exposures was limited.

Insurance Product Trends

Expand the options below to read a summary of how the insurance market trended in Q2 2024 across key lines of business, including Automobile, Casualty/Liability, Cyber, Directors & Officers and Property.

Q2 Product Trends
  Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officers Property
Asia Moderate Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
EMEA Moderate Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
Latin America Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Challenging
North America Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
Pacific Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
  • Automobile

    Inflation, high repair costs, increased accident frequency, and insurers’ combined ratio targets continued to pressure the Commercial Auto market and conditions remained moderate-to-challenging, with the notable exception of Latin America, where strong technical results led to moderate-to-favorable conditions. Large fleet risks and those with adverse loss experience faced a more challenging environment, while smaller fleets generally experienced broader appetite and more modest inflationary increases. Electric vehicles remained a key underwriting and pricing consideration. Risk differentiation, including the use of telematics and other vehicle safety and driver training initiatives, remained key to achieving superior renewal outcomes. Buffer layers, corridor deductibles, and alternative risk transfer programs were utilized as insureds sought to manage attachment points and total cost of risk.

  • Casualty/Liability

    The US litigation environment and wider claims trends continued to dominate underwriting agendas. Clients with significant US exposures or in heavy industries experienced moderate-to-challenging market conditions, with some capacity constraints, rigorous underwriting and price increases as insurers sought sustainable pricing. Well-performing risks with no US exposures experienced more favorable conditions. Insurers in the Umbrella and Excess market continued to introduce corridor features, reduce their capacity deployment, and request higher tower positions to manage their exposure. PFAS exclusions continued to be mandated for most risks.

  • Cyber

    Despite claims frequency trends, buyer-friendly market conditions continued, with increased capacity and competition leading to price reductions, particularly in high excess layers. Capacity continued to enter the market, including through Aon’s cyber managing general agent, CEDAR, which offers up to $20m of capacity for mid-sized companies. Renewal outcomes varied based on class of business, year-over-year improvement of cyber controls, and previous market adjustments. Underwriting discipline remained strong, and insurers maintained key loss control requirements, although underwriters demonstrated greater flexibility and willingness to offer tailored coverages to meet individual client needs. Systemic risk and privacy exposures remained a key area of focus for insurers, with systemic risks for critical infrastructure, correlated events and war subject to coverage restrictions. Insurers continued to implement wording similar to the Lloyd’s Cyber War exclusion which was introduced in March 2023.

  • Directors & Officers

    Healthy competition and abundant capacity continued to drive price reductions in the growth-focused D&O market, despite claims frequency and concern for higher derivative lawsuit settlements in the US. However, some insurers continued to grow more cautious, particularly related to high excess layers where rates have fallen materially in the past 18 months. The market remained limited for certain sectors (crypto, mining and nicotine). Insurers demonstrated flexibility in retention levels, mostly in areas where retentions had previously increased due to client-specific exposures. Coverages were generally unchanged, although dialogue around the potential implications of artificial intelligence for directors and officers continued to increase. Taking advantage of the current favorable market conditions, some insureds looked to expand coverages or purchase ancillary lines, including Crime, Employment Practices and Cyber. Long term agreements were available for companies with stable risk profiles.

  • Property

    Price moderation gained momentum in Q2, with most placements experiencing rate change ranging from single digit increases to single digit decreases. Q2 2024 represented the most positive market in the US since Q3 2017. New capacity entered parts of the market as many insurers shifted their focus toward growth. Insurer growth goals and positive insurer performance continued to lead to more aggressive pricing, albeit still dependent on the risk, loss experience and geography. Higher risk occupancies/risks and certain loss-affected territories (such as the Nordics, Brazil and Mexico) remained challenging and subject to rate increases and capacity constraints. Most placements renewed with expiring coverages and deductibles, but with many programs oversubscribed, buyers were able to correct non-concurrency in terms and conditions applied in the hard market. More insureds explored alternative structured property solutions for portions of their program.

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While today’s growth-focused environment has meant favorable pricing and terms for many clients, insurers are under pressure from ongoing frequency and severity of losses and continue to use risk differentiation strategies to manage their exposure.

Cynthia Beveridge
Cynthia Beveridge
Global Chief Broking Officer

Insurance Market Trends by Region

Expand the options below to read a summary of regional insurance market trends in Q2 2024. For more detailed analysis, download and read the full report here.

  • Asia
    • There has been an increasing frequency of large loss notifications. Whilst this development is noteworthy, it is not yet at a point that will impact the momentum of current buyer-friendly market conditions.
    • Insurers are continuing to invest in specialty lines, taking advantage of investments in renewable energy and infrastructure projects.
    • Favorable market conditions are expected to continue and potentially accelerate through the remaining two quarters of 2024.
    Q2 Asia Market Dynamics
      Overall Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
    Asia Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    China Soft -1%-10% Abundant Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Hong Kong Soft -1%-10% Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Japan Challenging +1%-10% Constrained Prudent Decreased Increased Stable
    Singapore Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Thailand Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Q2 Asia Product Trends
      Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officers Property
    Asia Moderate Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
    China Moderate Soft Moderate Soft Soft
    Hong Kong Moderate Soft Soft Soft Soft
    Japan Moderate Challenging Challenging Moderate Challenging
    Singapore Challenging Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
    Thailand Soft Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
  • Europe, Middle East and Africa
    • Competition was healthy in the Casualty market as insurers sought growth across both domestic and multinational risks (those without US exposures). The US litigation environment, however, had a material impact on placements with significant US exposures. Such placements experienced restrictions in terms, conditions and capacity.
    • Since passing the first anniversary of Lloyd’s Cyber War exclusion some domestic insurers have implemented similar wording concepts. Capacity continued to increase for Cyber – especially in Excess layers where price reductions were available and more flexible underwriting enabled insurers to tailor coverage to unique client needs. Ransomware continued to drive most claims activity.
    • The D&O market remained buyer-friendly. Some insureds took advantage of favorable market conditions by exploring expanded coverages and higher limits, particularly in ancillary lines like Crime, Employment Practices and Cyber. Long term agreements were available for companies with stable risk profiles.
    • The Property market improved with insurers pursuing growth strategies. New capacity entered certain European territories while the Nordic region experienced capacity restrictions due to large claims.
    • The Automobile market saw rate increases driven by higher claims costs stemming from rising repair costs, and an incremental rise in claims frequency from natural catastrophe events.
    Q2 EMEA Market Dynamics
      Overall Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
    EMEA Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    D-A-CH Moderate +1%-10% Abundant Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Iberia Moderate -1%-10% Abundant Prudent Increased Flat Stable
    Italy Moderate +1%-10% Ample Rigorous Flat Flat Stable
    Middle East Moderate -1%-10% Ample Prudent Increased Flat Broader
    Netherlands Moderate Flat Abundant Flexible Increased Flat Stable
    Nordics Moderate Flat Ample Flexible Flat Flat Stable
    South Africa Moderate +1%-10% Constrained Prudent Flat Increased Stable
    United Kingdom Moderate -1%-10% Ample Flexible Flat Flat Stable
    Q2 EMEA Product Trends
      Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officers Property
    EMEA Moderate Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
    D-A-CH Challenging Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
    Iberia Challenging Soft Soft Soft Moderate
    Italy Challenging Soft Moderate Soft Moderate
    Middle East Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Soft
    Netherlands Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate
    Nordics N/A Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
    South Africa Moderate Challenging Moderate Moderate Moderate
    United Kingdom Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
  • Latin America
    • Brazil and Colombia experienced a moderate environment, with specific challenges related to complex and high-risk sectors, e.g., oil & gas. Pricing increased for reinsurance-dependent risks, aggravated risks, and natural catastrophe exposures. Economic uncertainty remained high given that the full impact of recent extreme flooding in the Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) was not yet known and insurance for losses was expected to be limited due to the common industry practice of limiting coverage availability (including the use of sub-limits) for such losses. Despite rate increases due to natural catastrophe events, the Argentina market showed cautious optimism driven by potential export growth contributing to a positive FX impact.
    • While capacity overall was sufficient, Chile and Brazil experienced some capacity reductions for high-risk exposures and poorly performing risks. Chile's motor market and Colombia's Casualty and Directors & Officers markets moderated or expanded. Cyber capacity expanded across the region; insurers demonstrated significant interest in new products, driven by increased awareness of Cyber incidents.
    • Economic improvements and politics impacted the Latin American insurance market. Signs of economic recovery in Argentina and nearshoring expectations in Mexico suggested future growth, though immediate impacts have yet to be seen. Political factors, such as Mexico's federal election, led to cautious underwriting practices, particularly in higher-risk coverages like Cargo and Terrorism. The Floods in Brazil’s Rio Grande do Sul significantly affected the state’s industrial and agricultural sectors as well as insurers of agriculture and residential risk for Property and Automobile placements.
    Q2 Latin America Market Dynamics
      Overall Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
    Latin America Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Argentina Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Brazil Moderate -1%-10% Abundant Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Chile Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Colombia Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Mexico Moderate +1%-10% Constrained Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Q2 Latin America Product Trends
      Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officers Property
    Latin America Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Challenging
    Argentina Challenging Soft Challenging Soft Moderate
    Brazil Soft Moderate Soft Soft Challenging
    Chile Moderate Soft Challenging Soft Moderate
    Colombia Moderate Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate
    Mexico Challenging Moderate Moderate Soft Challenging
  • North America
    • Fueled by insurer growth ambitions, buyer-friendly conditions continued across much of the market, characterized by healthy competition as incumbent insurers sought to retain renewals and potentially expand their participation. As claims frequency remained a challenge, Aon continued to guide clients to make decisions about their insurer partners on the merit of each insurer’s focus on long-term partnership, and to look for a proven track record on claims handling versus making decisions on price alone. Capacity creation through Facultative Reinsurance and parametric solutions continued to gain traction as key levers for many clients.
    • The Property market moderation gained momentum, with average pricing hovering near flat in the US – which saw its most favorable market since Q3 2017 - and modestly up in Canada. Clients with shared and layered placements, particularly those in desirable classes with profitable historical loss ratios and natural catastrophe exposures (minimal or heavy but excluding Florida), experienced healthy competition and flexible underwriting, and oversubscription was common. Positive market conditions allowed for the correction of non-concurrency in terms – a condition which had to be accepted on some placements in recent years due to capacity constraints.
    • D&O and Cyber placements continued to experience rate decreases in the single to low double digits. Despite rising claims, the Cyber insurance market remained buyer-friendly with significant savings in high excess layers, driven by improved cyber controls and past market adjustments. Underwriting remained rigorous and, despite competition in the market, the expectation for minimum cyber security controls continued. D&O also saw healthy competition and stable coverage; however, high excess layers were less likely to see price decreases.
    • Casualty pricing, particularly for US Auto and Umbrella, remained challenging, with many risks continuing to see double digit rate increases and increased Umbrella attachment points as insurers respond to adverse litigation trends. The Canadian market saw conditions easing in the excess market while improvements in the primary market lagged.
    Q2 North America Market Dynamics
      Overall Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
    North America Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Canada Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    United States Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Q2 North America Product Trends
      Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officers Property
    North America Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
    Canada Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
    United States Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
  • Pacific
    • Measures taken at past renewals have led to a generally more positive market environment. Market conditions overall continued to stabilize, providing welcome relief to buyers albeit there remain pockets of the market which remained challenged; in particular, Casualty risks with heavy US exposures and natural catastrophe-exposed Property risks.
    • The tightening of Property terms and conditions observed over the last several years has slowed. A greater focus on contract simplicity is anticipated in the short-to-medium term as insurers balance the need to grow and transact efficiently, ushering in a more commercial approach to clause language. Higher-risk and loss-active risks, and risks in certain sectors were challenged as insurer appetite and supply remained limited.
    • The Cyber market has materially improved over the last 12 months and was soft in Q2. It remains to be seen how current compounding factors such as the increasing number of cyber incidents and insured losses, as well as lower barriers to entry for criminals seeking to exploit organizations, may impact the market in the future.
    • Insurance affordability remained a key factor in New Zealand as historic premium increases, coupled with a challenging post-COVID economic environment, continue to impact insurance buyers’ ability to absorb further cost increases.
    Q2 Pacific Market Dynamics
      Overall Pricing Capacity Underwriting Limits Deductibles Coverages
    Pacific Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Australia Moderate Flat Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    New Zealand Moderate +1%-10% Ample Prudent Flat Flat Stable
    Q2 Pacific Product Trends
      Automobile Casualty/Liability Cyber Directors & Officiers Property
    Pacific Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
    Australia Moderate Moderate Soft Soft Moderate
    New Zealand Moderate Moderate Soft Moderate Moderate

To see our full analysis of regional and country level insurance market conditions, download the report here.

General Disclaimer

The information contained herein and the statements expressed are of a general nature and are not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information and use sources we consider reliable, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.

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