Howden sees January premiums rise 4.5% on higher volumes

Premium growth was driven by increased demand for reinsurance.

Howden’s January renewal premiums rose 4.5%, mainly due to higher volumes.

Reinsurers saw stable renewals at 1.1 as they adopted a more selective and cautious underwriting approach.  

Premium growth was driven by increased demand for reinsurance, particularly in property, as exposure expanded. 

Pricing for natural catastrophe coverage declined slightly, but casualty pricing remained stable or increased due to concerns over inflation and loss model adjustments. 

Munich Re focused on portfolio management, prioritising client relationships and selective growth.  

Terms and conditions remained favourable, with ample retrocession capacity leading to dynamic purchasing behaviour. 

Barclays noted that there is little evidence of capacity withdrawal and expects the reinsurance market to stay oversupplied for April, June, and July renewals and into 2026.