Asian Insurance Focus: India & China

Scope eKnowledge Center Ltd.
August 1, 2008
301 Pages - SKU: SCO2021751
License type:
Table of Contents Related Reports
Countries covered: China, India

Globalization is the key source which is bringing about an "irreversible transformation" in the Asian insurance market. India and China are "dynamically" driving the growth of insurance markets in Asia and the outlook for this industry in the region is "sanguine" despite short-term uncertainties.

Asia is becoming an important growth engine for global insurers. The changing socio-economic dynamics present attractive opportunities. According to a latest research report from HSBC, in order to be long-term winners, life insurance companies in Asia need to diversify their income streams such that at least 25% of earnings are sourced overseas, while maintaining a dominant position in the domestic market.

Many Asian financial services companies have exceeded the overall growth rate for their domestic economies and are therefore looking to expand globally or invest their shares in new markets. Another trend predicted by PwC, was that intra-Asian trade would continue to increase, particularly as the West decreased its investment in this region. The increasing wealth and educational development in Asia, has built a good foundation for the development of financial services.

Market Performance Asia is becoming a major player with four Chinese financial services companies listed among the top 21 global companies last year by market capitalisation.

In the recent times, China has moved ahead of the Indian insurance sector. India opened the market to private players in 2000 while China did that a decade earlier. Apart from India and China, which are putting Asia on a global scale, other countries like Japan and Hong Kong are also increasingly diversifying their insurance sectors. Japan is home to some of the largest Asian insurers, and has an urgent desire to expand its client portfolio across the region. The insurance sector in this region has seen Western financial services companies compete for Asian assets. However, regional companies - especially from Japan and China - are expected to become more dominant in this market over the next few years. In the year 2007, Hong Kong saw the greatest amount of M&A transactions in their insurance sector. Due to globalization, deregulation, and terrorist attacks, the insurance industry has gone through a tremendous transformation over the past decade.

Competitive Landscape Some of the largest US, Japanese and French insurers focus exclusively on their home markets. However, multi-national groups who have ‘international’ businesses almost invariably have operations in the Asia-Pacific region, if only because of the size and growth potential of many of the national markets.

Under the Life Insurance Sector, AIG is the biggest in Asia, in terms of country presence and premiums. ING comes second by premiums. However, globally, Prudential tops the list, being the most dependent on the region.

Among the non-life insurance cos., regional player Mitsui Sumitomo, leads the property and casualty side.

Major Driving Factors
  • Globalization
  • Deregulation which is opening up the markets
  • Cheaper and more effective distribution channels
  • Ongoing industry consolidation
  • Increment in the policy holder firms
  • Boost in Merger and Acquisitions activities
  • Changing socio-economic dynamics
  • Market offering wider margins
  • Unique combination of size, age profile and growth prospects
  • Many more..
Major Issues, Trends and Opportunities
  • Continuous increment in intra-Asian trade
  • Need for diversification in the income streams
  • Rise in selling investment type products like annuities
  • Chance to compete directly with financial services companies
  • Focus on paying out more in claims
  • Drastic increment in marine and cargo insurance sectors
  • Developments in countries, who were closely regulated by their government
  • Lack of proper agent quality
  • Change in the distribution method
  • Difficulties in building networks and brands
  • Hindrance in expansion in some of the emerging markets
  • Risk management concerns in insurance companies
  • Global Expansion
  • Transformation in the organizational system to win customer loyalty
  • Weak equity markets
  • Impact of sub-prime
  • Regulatory and market obstacles in the emerging markets
Topics covered in the report
  • Overview of the Asian Insurance Sector
  • Trends analysis of the Asian economy
  • Asia’s economic presence as compare to other countries
  • Trend analysis of Chinese economy & macroeconomic factors contributing to the growth of the sector
  • Market performance and forecast of insurance sector (total, life & non-life) since 1996 till 2007
  • Key issues & challenges, major trends & opportunities in the Chinese insurance sector
  • China’s position in the context of emerging countries, and driving factors
  • Company profiles of the top players in China
  • Trend analysis of Indian economy and growing macroeconomic trends
  • Market overview, performance & forecast (total, life & non-life) since 2000 till 2011
  • Growth drivers , key issues, challenges, major trends & opportunities in the Indian insurance sector
  • Government’s initiatives to promote & regulate the insurance market
  • India’s position in the context of emerging countries
  • Company profiles of the top players in India


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