Overcapacity drives 30% rate cuts in P&C markets

Overcapacity in the international construction, property & casualty markets in the first half of 2014 has resulted in rate reductions of up to 30 percent for commercial insurance buyers, according to Willis.

The report noted that the reductions are primarily driven by benign loss activity and softening conditions in the global reinsurance market, which is having a trickledown effect to the primary insurance market.

“Over and above rate reductions, corporate insurance buyers are also benefitting from an increase in available natural catastrophe capacity,” said the report.

Willis notes that capacity is at an all-time high, with no withdrawals of capacity from the construction market in the last six months. Concurrently, volume of construction projects in many parts of the world has reduced, which has led to intensifying competition between carriers for premium volume and market share in the construction insurance market.

The report added that the international property & casualty insurance market continues to witness an influx of capital. Provided that detailed risk information is available, carriers are prepared to offer insurance buyers improved coverage, particularly improved contingent business interruption extensions, noted the report.

In the general property market, premium rates are continuing to decrease by between 10 percent and 15 percent on claims free business, with larger reductions available for buyers who can clearly demonstrate robust risk management practices and detailed risk information.

James Nicholson, head of broking and industry practice groups for construction, property and casualty at Willis, said: “Our view is that soft market conditions are likely to continue without necessarily threatening the profitability and solvency of carriers, provided that they actively manage their portfolios. For their part, corporate insurance buyers can achieve substantially better than average pricing through the provision of good underwriting data, the use of analytics to drive pricing and through strong relationships with carriers. The outlook therefore remains very favourable for corporate buyers and more particularly for the well-informed.”