Natural disasters drive premium hikes for 2025 renewals – Faris Re

Reinsurers take conservative stances amid rising catastrophe losses and volatility

Natural disasters drive premium hikes for 2025 renewals – Faris Re

Reinsurance

By Kenneth Araullo

The 2025 reinsurance renewal season is approaching, with several factors influencing the market landscape. Economic fluctuations, natural catastrophe trends, regulatory changes, and evolving risk profiles are key elements shaping discussions between insurers and reinsurers.

Insights from Faris Re highlight these dynamics, noting the challenges and adjustments the industry is likely to face.

Global economic conditions remain a critical factor in reinsurance pricing. Persistent inflation in late 2024, combined with rising interest rates, has implications for reinsurers' strategies.

Faris Re notes that inflation increases claims costs, which could prompt reinsurers to revise pricing to preserve margins. Higher interest rates, while potentially boosting investment returns, may also influence how reinsurers structure their pricing models.

Recent years have seen an uptick in the frequency and severity of natural disasters, including hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, resulting in substantial insured losses. Faris Re emphasizes that reinsurers are reassessing risk models for catastrophe exposures.

For 2025, a more conservative approach is anticipated, potentially leading to higher premiums for natural disaster coverage as reinsurers aim to mitigate increased volatility.

Shifts in regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions are likely to impact reinsurance negotiations. In Europe, for example, ongoing discussions around Solvency II reforms could alter capital requirements for reinsurers, according to Faris Re.

These adjustments may require insurers and reinsurers to restructure contracts and adapt pricing models to comply with evolving standards, adding a layer of complexity to renewal talks.

Emerging risks, including cyber threats, climate impacts, and pandemic-related exposures, are reshaping the risk landscape. Faris Re highlights the growing reliance on data analytics and modeling to address these developments.

The firm anticipates that reinsurers will increasingly offer bespoke solutions tailored to specific risk profiles, moving away from traditional, broad-based approaches for 2025 renewals.

Market capacity remains a significant determinant of renewal outcomes. Recent catastrophic losses have prompted some reinsurers to scale back their capacity or exit certain markets.

Faris Re suggests this shift could lead to heightened competition among remaining reinsurers, with firms vying to secure market share through competitive terms or innovative offerings.

Stakeholders in the insurance and reinsurance sectors face a challenging renewal season for 2025. Faris Re anticipates higher premiums, driven by economic pressures, increased focus on catastrophe risk, and changing regulatory requirements.

The emergence of new risks further underscores the need for proactive engagement between insurers and reinsurers to navigate this evolving environment effectively.

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