A leading rating agency has predicted that 2022 will bring the fifth consecutive year of premium rate increases for property catastrophe cover in 2022, and predicted that they will be double-digit rate increases.

Fitch Ratings also said that it expects that for global reinsurers this year will become one of the top five most costly so far this century.

It added that reinsurers’ plans to continue raising premium rates should contribute to stronger profitability and an improving sector outlook.

Reinsurers have widely suggested the need for continued rate increases, and several made the point at September’s Monte Carlo Rendez-Vous and this month’s Baden-Baden Reinsurance Meeting.

They have signalled their expectation for further price rises when contracts are renewed in January, largely because of increasing natural catastrophe claims linked to climate change.

A statement from Fitch said: “We recently cited rising prices as a key reason for our view that the sector outlook was improving for 2022.

“Prospects of a strong economic recovery and lower pandemic-related losses were also key.

“Natural catastrophe claims have become more frequent and severe in recent years due to climate change.

“We expect 2021 to become one of the five most costly years this century for global reinsurers.

“Severe floods in central Europe in July and Hurricane Ida in the US in late August and early September will, together, have caused insured losses of more than $40 billion.

“Globally, there were about $40 billion insured losses in 1H21. The global total for 2021 will also reflect several smaller catastrophe events in 2H21, including a series of wildfires, and will exceed the amount that reinsurers had budgeted for.

“We expect double-digit percentage premium rate rises for property catastrophe cover in 2022 due to the excess losses in 2021 and the prospect of higher natural catastrophe claims frequency and severity in future.

“This would make 2022 the fifth successive year of price rises. The price increases should help to bolster the sector’s underwriting profitability as they gradually feed into reinsurers’ underwriting margins.

“Higher prices are making the sector more resilient to the effects of climate change on natural catastrophe claims patterns. Reinsurers have shown discipline in prioritising pricing for increased risk rather than seeking to undercut competitors to gain market share.

“The growth of catastrophe bonds to pass risk directly to investors could also become an important factor to mitigate the sector’s exposure to climate change risk in the coming years.”