Reinsurance News

Middle East Conflict

Swiss Re strengthens reserves by $400m for inflationary impacts of Middle East war

7th May 2026

Anders Malmström, Group CFO of Swiss Re, one of Europe's big four reinsurance companies, said this morning that the company set aside roughly $400 million in additional reserves in the first quarter of 2026 for potential inflationary impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. During a call with the ... Read the full article

Lancashire underweight in Middle East, sees opportunities in PV market: CEO & CUO

1st May 2026

Within the political violence (PV) market, executives at Bermuda-based insurer and reinsurer Lancashire said they expect claims that come through the system from the conflict in the Middle East to exceed premiums, while noting that the firm’s exposure to the region is limited and that it sees opportunities to selectively ... Read the full article

McGill and Partners announces coverage for aviation spares against war perils

27th April 2026

Global specialty insurance and reinsurance broker McGill and Partners has expanded its aviation insurance solutions to offer protection to aviation spares against war perils while on the ground. The broker is providing this coverage in tandem with certain carriers in the London market, intending to fill a "crucial" coverage gap in ... Read the full article

Arctic maritimes routes see growing interest, though commercial potential remains limited: Coface

22nd April 2026

With the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global trade, a new study from Coface has highlighted that Arctic routes are attracting growing interest as potential alternatives. However, the firm has suggested that the commercial potential of Arctic routes will "remain limited" ... Read the full article

Shipowners urged to reassess war risk cover as claims expand beyond high-risk zones: The London P&I Club

17th April 2026

The London P&I Club, a provider of marine liability insurance, has advised shipowners and brokers to place greater emphasis on the scope of their war risk cover, rather than focusing primarily on price, as claims increasingly arise from incidents outside traditional high-risk zones. According to Ben McKeith, Senior Underwriter at the ... Read the full article

Beazley plans new Marine War insurance consortium to expand market capacity

16th April 2026

Beazley, a large specialist insurer, has announced plans to establish a new Marine War insurance consortium aimed at increasing available coverage within the market. The initiative is expected to provide up to $1 billion in Lloyd’s capacity, split evenly between Hull War and Cargo War risks. This offering is intended to ... Read the full article

Asia-Pacific insurers face limited direct Middle East exposure: S&P

13th April 2026

A report by S&P Global Ratings has suggested Asia-Pacific insurers have limited direct exposure to the Middle East, with risks remaining manageable under its base-case scenario but likely to escalate if oil market disruptions persist for an extended period. In its report, “Asia-Pacific Insurers: Market Volatility Is The Largest War-Related Impact,” ... Read the full article

Two-week Middle East ceasefire insufficient to shift risk pricing: Rudman, Aon

10th April 2026

Stephen Rudman, Head of Marine for Asia at global insurance and reinsurance broking group Aon, has said that a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East conflict is insufficient to materially alter risk pricing or an underwriting stance. On April 8, the United States, Iran and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire, ... Read the full article

India reportedly considering $1.5bn reinsurance fund for vessels travelling through conflict zones

7th April 2026

The Indian government is reportedly considering a $1.5 billion fund to provide reinsurance cover to Indian vessels travelling through conflict zones, such as the Strait of Hormuz, which remains effectively closed to most international shipping due to the ongoing Iran conflict. Reports indicate that the fund is intended to encourage insurance ... Read the full article

GCC insurers’ underwriting profitability at risk from Hormuz disruption, Fitch warns

7th April 2026

Assessing insurers’ vulnerability to an adverse scenario in which the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed until June 2026, Fitch Ratings has warned that a spike in inflation or supply chain disruption could drive up claims costs, putting particular pressure on the underwriting profitability of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) insurers. Fitch ... Read the full article

Macro trends drive market softening in Asia & India at April 1 renewals: Guy Carpenter

2nd April 2026

Guy Carpenter, the reinsurance broking arm of Marsh, reports that both Asia and India witnessed continued softening at the April 1, 2026, reinsurance renewals, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East threatens to drive significant losses for various specialty lines of business. The reinsurance broker highlights significant price reductions in ... Read the full article

P&C profitability nears peak amid rising competition and strong balance sheets, says Moody’s

30th March 2026

According to Moody's Ratings, a provider of credit ratings and risk analysis, profitability in the property and casualty (P&C) reinsurance sector appears to have reached its peak as competition intensifies across all lines of business. Moody’s reports that in 2025, the combined ratio of four major European reinsurers, Hannover Re, Munich ... Read the full article

Commodity prices rise due to Middle East conflict: Coface

30th March 2026

The conflict in the Middle East is causing commodity prices to soar, driven by disruptions to the supply of raw materials via the Strait of Hormuz. According to a recent FLASH NEWS report by Coface, the conflict has triggered a “deadlock” scenario that is significantly impacting the oil & gas, ... Read the full article

Reinsurance at the forefront as Iran conflict drives global energy shock: Peak Re

30th March 2026

In a recent analysis from Peak Re, the Hong Kong-based global reinsurer, the company set out its assessment of the economic and re/insurance market implications of the Iran conflict, with analysis led by Vice President, Economist, Kritika Kashyap. Peak Re frame the situation not simply as a geopolitical crisis, but as ... Read the full article

Continued Middle East conflict drives ‘new equilibrium’ in terrorism and political violence reinsurance: WTW

27th March 2026

A prolonged Middle East conflict is emerging as the most likely near-term scenario shaping terrorism and political violence reinsurance renewals, with the market already settling into a new equilibrium, according to WTW. Fergus Critchley, Global Head of Terrorism & Political Violence at WTW, speaking ahead of the April 1 renewals, said ... Read the full article