While domestic markets remain important to Mena reinsurers they are also looking further afield for diversification in order to stabilise earnings against the uncertainties and volatility of their local markets, a report said.

Insurance markets in the Mena region have continued to grow, with increased demand for products over the past decade driven by a period of high oil prices that has funded infrastructure development and increased commercial activity, and the introduction of compulsory covers, particularly for medical health care and liability risks, added the report titled “Stormy Currents Emerging for Mena Reinsurers” from A M Best, a global insurance rating and information source.

However, many Middle Eastern economies are now facing challenges as a result of the low oil price environment, with lower revenue increasing pressure on government finances. This has resulted in governments reconsidering their fiscal stances, with the adoption of a value-added tax regime in the process of being rolled out across the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and increasing restraint on government spending on infrastructure.

Mahesh Mistry, senior director of analytics, said: “The profile of the region’s reinsurers has not changed materially over the past few years, and they concentrate on prudent underwriting and risk selection in order to maintain profitability. However, given the pressure on rates experienced in core product lines, coupled with the higher frequency of property losses, Mena reinsurers have gradually reduced their exposure to Mena markets, and supplemented revenues by focussing more on Asian and African markets, where pricing is more attractive.”

The report states that while reinsurance markets in the Mena region are competitive, for international reinsurers, they are also considered to be a source of expansion. This is owing to a range of factors, including continued market liberalisation, and the majority of markets being open with few restrictions on reinsurance operations.

Yvette Essen, director of research and report author, said: “Many of the region’s markets are perceived to be attractive as they have benign exposure to natural catastrophe events in comparison with other more mature insurance markets. Reinsurers are drawn to the prospect of establishing geographically diverse underwriting portfolios without encountering the significant earnings volatility driven by natural catastrophe exposure. Regional and international reinsurers are seeking less catastrophe-prone business to complement their existing portfolios.”

The report notes all A M Best-rated reinsurers domiciled in the Mena region are generally well-capitalised. It states that while balance sheet strength is strong for rated Mena reinsurers, underwriting profitability remains the main concern, with many companies delivering marginal to weak performance.

Therefore, reinsurers in the region are dependent on investment income to generate earnings. While investment yields are low, pressure to improve underwriting margins is growing, and any failure to improve technical performance is likely to put greater pressure on ratings as this weakness gradually erodes balance sheet strength and the profile of the companies. – TradeArabia News Service