The surplus lines market grew 11.2% in 2018, an increase from just under 6% in 2017, says AM Best. The surplus lines market grew 11.2% in 2018, an increase from just under 6% in 2017, says AM Best.

The odds are in surplus lines' favor — a healthy U.S. economy, emerging risks surrounding new technologies, and operational investments fueled the sector's growth last year, which grew 11.2%, says AM Best's new report, "Surplus Lines Insurers Achieve Impressive Growth, Improve Operating Profitability."

State of the market

Despite premium growth, surplus lines insurers experienced their fourth consecutive year of underwriting loss due to weather-related losses and market competition.

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Heather A. Turner

Heather A. Turner is the managing editor of ALM's NU Property & Casualty Group. She can be reached at [email protected].

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