BMI's Executive Summary for the Thailand Insurance Report

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This report differs from its predecessors in that it includes BMI's Insurance Business Environment Rating (IBER). The rating brings together a number of pieces of relevant quantitative data, together with BMI's Country Risk Rating (CRR). It is now much easier to consider the business environment for the insurance sector in any one country relative to the business environment for other industries in that country that are surveyed by BMI, and the business environment for the insurance sector in other countries.

Thailand's IBER is 57.4. While this is a moderately attractive insurance sector, particularly in the life segment, relative to the country's Asia Pacific regional peers, the rating is supported by a satisfactory regulatory environment but eroded by an increased country risk – most notably from the uncertain political situation – and a slow-growing, under-developed non-life sector. Economic growth faces problems and the population is growing slowly.

Over the forecast period, we anticipate that non-life premiums will grow by 11% annually in local currency terms and by 14% in US dollar terms, albeit from a low base. Life premiums are expected to increase by 8% annually in local currency terms and by 12% in US dollar terms. The key drivers of growth in the non-life segment in 2007-2012 are the anticipated rise in nominal GDP from around US$239bn to US$340bn and an expected increase in non-life penetration from 1.3% of GDP to 1.8%. The key driver of growth in the life segment is the envisaged rise in life density from a miniscule US$84 per capita in 2007 to US$140 per capita in 2012.

There a few barriers to entry to cross-border firms to the Thai insurance sector, although there are relatively few international players. The market is dominated by AIA, a division of the AIG group. Elsewhere the competitive landscape, in both the non-life and the life segment, is fragmented, although there are signs that this is beginning to be addressed. The non-life segment is particularly underdeveloped; however, some sub-segments of this, such as motor insurance, have proven unattractive to foreign companies.

Thailand is a relatively developed and open economy with a satisfactory regulatory regime for the insurance sector. The growth in the middle class over recent years has led to strong growth in the life segment in particular. However, the country faces grave political uncertainty that December's general election is yet to resolve. This, combined with a growing nationalist message from some quarters, threatens economic growth and business sentiment. A significant disparity in wealth between the urban centres and rural areas remains both a weakness and, if there is political will to address the gap, an opportunity for development.

Contents of the Thailand Insurance Report

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Chapter 1 - The Sector At A Glance

Table: Overview

Key Features Of This Report & Likely Future Changes

Chapter 2 - Latest News

Recent Developments

Chapter 3 - Evolution Since The Mid-1990s

Table: Evolution Of The Insurance Sector (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Evolution

Chapter 4 - Projections And Forecasts

Table: BMI Projections (In Millions Of Currency Specified)

Projections And Drivers Of Growth

Chapter 5 - Macroeconomic Outlook

Table: Thailand: Macroeconomic Data And Forecasts

Chapter 6 - Country Update

Political Risk Threat To Stability

Economic Risk Interest Rate Discipline

Business Environment Trailing Singapore

Chapter 7 - Analysis of Competitive Conditions

Table: Non-Life Segment Rankings Of Markets

Table: Presence Of Cross-Border Insurers Non-Life

Table: Selected Local Insurers

Country Overview Thailand Life Segment

Table: Life Segment Rankings Of Markets

Table: Presence Of Cross-Border Insurers Life

Table: Selected Local Life Insurers

Whos Who In The Asia-Pacific Region?

Chapter 8 - Regional Context

Table: Regional Context - Premiums

Table: Regional Context Total Premiums

Chapter 9 - Methodology And Objectives

Introduction

Background

Forecasts

Chapter 10 - Appendix

Table: Latest Estimates / Actual Figures For 2005

Table: Latest Estimates For 2010

Table: Latest Estimates For 2005-2010

Competitive Landscape for Asia Insurance Reports: Sample of
    Companies Ranked

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A cross-border overview of key players and their insurance market share across Asia. Tables and graphs show country presence of multinationals across the region. Comparative company analyses and rankings by premium income (life and non-life). Company SWOTS for leading life and non-life insurers, covering network of offices, presence of foreign stakeholders, strategic relationships, joint ventures; portfolio of clients; diversity of product range; profit growth, investment strategy and risk exposure.

Network of Insurance Sources

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BMI's Asian Insurance Reports are based on an extensive network of multilateral organisations, government departments, insurance industry associations, chambers of commerce and company reports. Information sources include:

Read about our other Insurance Reports