Non-U.S. organizations vaulted up a premium ranking of excess and surplus lines insurance writers in the United States in 2009, although industry-wide U.S. E&S premiums shrank for the third straight year, an exclusive report by National Underwriter revealed.

Bermuda-based Ironshore Group was the biggest sprinter--climbing 35 spots to 20th place on a ranking of groups based on their direct U.S. E&S premium writings in 2009, with its $312 million total pushing the group up from the 55th spot it occupied in 2008.

Overall, U.S. E&S premiums fell 7.5 percent in 2009. Among the top-25 groups, however, six bucked the overall trend, reporting premium jumps. All six contrarians, like Ironshore, hail from organizations based beyond U.S. shores.

Four of these entities--Australia's QBE Insurance Group, along with Bermuda's Ironshore, Endurance Group, and Max Specialty Group--recorded increases of 35 percent or more, while Germany's Munich Re Group and Bermuda's Allied World recorded jumps of 8 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

The rankings and trends were revealed on group and carrier lists compiled by Highline Data (www.highlinedata.com), part of The National Underwriter Company.

o For the complete NU report, go to http://www.property-casualty.com/Issues/2010/May-24-2010/Pages/Foreign-Firms-Post-Biggest-US-Gains-In-Shrinking-ES-Insurance-Market.aspx.

o For E&S Group Rankings, go to http://www.property-casualty.com/Issues/2010/May-24-2010/Documents/GroupChart_2pg.pdf.

o For individual E&S Company Rankings, go to http://www.property-casualty.com/Issues/2010/May-24-2010/Documents/ind%20comp.pdf.

The report first appeared in the May 24 edition of NU magazine. For additional stories in that issue, go to http://www.property-casualty.com/Pages/Property-Casualty-Insurance-Magazine.aspx.