Catastrophes Cost Insurers $22B in 1H 2017; Economic Losses Totaled $53B: Aon

July 20, 2017

Global insured losses from natural disasters during the first half of 2017 are estimated at US$22 billion with 76 percent of these losses generated by U.S. events, according to a report issued by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team.

The report revealed that the $22 billion figure is 35 percent lower than the 10-year average of US$34 billion and 12 percent lower than the 17-year average of US$25 billion.

During the first half, global economic (uninsured) losses from natural catastrophes were estimated at US$53 billion – 56 percent lower than the 10-year average of US$122 billion and 39 percent lower than the 17-year average of US$87 billion, according to the report titled “Global Catastrophe Recap: First Half of 2017.”

The report revealed that the severe convective storm (SCS) peril during 1H 2017 was the costliest disaster type on an economic basis, comprising 48 percent of total losses or nearly US$26 billion.

SCS also caused the majority of insurance losses (more than US$17 billion), comprising 78 percent of the loss total. Nearly US$16 billion of that total was attributable to hailstorms, damaging straight-line winds and tornadoes in the U.S., the report confirmed.

Natural disasters claimed at least 2,782 lives during 1H 2017, the lowest figure since 1986 and significantly below the long-term (1980-2016) average of 40,867. Flooding was the deadliest peril during the period, being responsible for at least 1,806 deaths.

“The financial toll from natural catastrophe events during the first six months of 2017 may not have been historic, but it was enough to lead to challenges for governments and the insurance industry around the world,” said Steve Bowen, Impact Forecasting director and meteorologist.

“This was especially true in the United States after the insurance industry faced its second-costliest first half on record following a relentless six months of hail-driven severe weather damage,” he said.

He noted that nearly eight out of 10 monetary insurance payouts for global disasters were related to the SCS peril.

“Other events – such as Cyclone Debbie in Australia, flooding in China and Peru, wildfires in South Africa, and a series of windstorms in Europe – led to notable economic damage costs,” he added. “As we enter the second half of the year, much of the focus will be on whether an El Niño officially develops. Such an event could have a prominent influence on weather patterns and associated disaster risks.”

The report noted that the U.S. recorded 76 percent of the global losses sustained by public and private insurance entities during 1H 2017, while EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) each accounted for 10 percent. The Americas made up four percent of the global insured loss total.

Around 42 percent of the 1H 2017 global economic losses were covered by insurance, above both the near- and medium-term average of 32 percent and due to the fact that the majority of losses occurred in the U.S.

However, insurance take-up rates continued to grow in other areas, notably Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the Americas, the report said.

Source: Impact Forecasting/Aon Benfield

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