In the first 11 months of 2020, GWPs declined by 0.6% YoY. GWPs in non-life insurances grew 4.8% YoY, while life insurance decreased by 14.2% YoY.
Croatian Insurance Bureau published the GWP development in November 2020. Since the beginning of the year, GWP’s observed a slight decline of 0.6% YoY (or HRK 63.2m), indicating that Croatia’s insurance sector was only grazed by the pandemic (in terms of written premiums).
The total amount of GWPs collected reached HRK 9.797bn (includes insurers located in Croatia and insurers operating in Croatia but based in another EU country). The aforementioned decrease came solely on the back of the life segment which observed a strong decline of 14.2% YoY (or HRK -403.1m) to HRK 2.44bn. Such a decrease could arguably be attributed to the maturing of policies which were underwritten coupled with lower savings through life insurance and early termination of these policies. Meanwhile, non-life segment which traditionally accounts for the biggest portion of total GWPs (75%), is still up by 4.8% YoY (or HRK 339.9m).
Croatia’s largest insurer, Croatia Osiguranje accounted for 26% of the market, being flat YoY.
Top & Bottom Performing Insurance Segments (Jan – November 2020 vs Jan – November 2019) (HRK m)
When observing GWPs by structure since the beginning of the year insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles (which accounts for 24.93% of GWPs) recorded a high increase of 12.31% YoY (or HRK 262.3m). Strong growth of this type of insurance can be explained by both, increase in number of policies issued (2.4%) and increase in average policy value (9.7% YoY). The average premium for insurance against motor vehicle liability for damages caused to third parties in 11M 2020 has amounted to HRK 1,072.64 ( vs. HRK 977.75 in 11M 2019). In 11 months of 2020, 2,231,982 policies were concluded, i.e. 51,700 policies more than in the same period in 2019.
The second biggest category in Non-life insurance is vehicle insurance (casco policy) which accounts for 12.55% of total GWPs, and it has recorded an increase of 3.38%. Health insurance observed also a solid YTD performance of +4.53%. Credit insurance observed a sharp decrease of 32.2% (or HRK 112.8m). This does not come as a surprise given the expected lower loan issuance activity in Croatia as a result of Covid-19 outbreak.
