The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority’s (APRA) latest intermediated general insurance statistics show an increase in premium volumes placed through intermediaries in the six months to Dec. 31, 2025, led by business with APRA‑authorised general insurers and Lloyd’s underwriters, alongside a decrease in unauthorised foreign insurer (UFI) placements and a larger number of intermediaries that did not write any business in the period.
Total intermediated premium invoiced for the December 2025 half-year was $22.97 billion, compared with $21.59 billion in the June 2025 half and $22.28 billion in the six months to December 2024. Of this, $18.87 billion was placed with APRA‑authorised general insurers, up from $17.66 billion in June 2025 and $17.97 billion a year earlier. Premiums placed with Lloyd’s underwriters through intermediaries totalled $2.99 billion, versus $2.54 billion in June 2025 and $3.00 billion in the prior December period. Intermediated business with UFIs moved lower, with premium invoiced at $1.11 billion, down from $1.39 billion in the June 2025 half and $1.31 billion in the six months to December 2024. The publication covers intermediated general insurance business placed with APRA‑authorised general insurers, Lloyd’s underwriters and UFIs.
APRA’s data indicate that while the intermediary population grew over the year, a significant proportion did not place business during the reporting period. The total number of intermediaries recorded in the market reached 1,766 in the six months to December 2025, up from 1,726 in June 2025 and 1,712 a year earlier. Of these, 651 intermediaries placed business with at least one underwriter, either directly or via a foreign intermediary. Within that group, 609 intermediaries placed business with APRA‑authorised general insurers, 349 with Lloyd’s underwriters and 93 with UFIs. Because many intermediaries deal with more than one type of underwriter, the numbers by underwriter type do not add to the total number that placed business. A smaller set of 29 intermediaries placed business only through other Australian intermediaries, compared with 25 in June 2025 and 28 in December 2024. In contrast, 1,086 intermediaries placed no business at all in the December 2025 half-year, up from 1,036 in the June 2025 period and 1,020 in the prior corresponding period.
The statistics again distinguish between premium “invoiced” in a period and premium “effective” in that period. For intermediated business, policies are commonly effective before they are invoiced, so the effective premium for a six‑month window can include amounts billed in the following half-year. Because of this timing difference, APRA publishes effective premium data – and the share of APRA‑authorised insurers’ gross written premium placed by intermediaries – with a six‑month lag.
Effective premium figures for the December 2025 period will appear in the next instalment of the intermediated general insurance statistics. The regulator also notes that data for “gross written premium – direct business” are not available for the December 2023 period due to changes associated with AASB 17. From June 2024 onwards, the gross written premium figure for direct business includes fire service levies and other levies imposed by state and territory governments, affecting comparability with earlier periods.
The December 2025 publication provides a breakdown of UFI placements by region and class of business. Total premium invoiced with UFIs for the half-year was $1.11 billion. By region, Singapore accounted for 48% of UFI premium, and the UK accounted for 20%. Bermuda and continental Europe each represented 13% of the total, while the remaining 7% was split between other countries and a small volume written in New Zealand. By class of business, fire and industrial special risks generated $652 million of UFI premium, or 59% of the total. Other direct classes accounted for $198 million, or 18%. Public and product liability business contributed $101 million (9%), and professional indemnity $93 million (8%). Marine and aviation and other accident lines comprised the balance of UFI premium.
The release of APRA’s data comes at the same time as Deloitte’s “Insurance Predictions 2026,” part of its Insurance growth series, which sets out eight themes the firm expects to influence insurers’ decision‑making this year. Deloitte links its outlook to geopolitical developments, rapid technological change, climate pressures, regulatory change, and changing customer and community expectations, and notes that premium rate increases are softening while margins are under pressure.
Deloitte said its predictions “reveal how insurers can outcompete, outgrow, and deliver unparalleled value to customers, communities, and shareholders,” and that boards and executives will need to “carefully balance where to invest, what to prioritise, and how quickly to move.” One theme is the changing role of finance, with the report stating that “finance will shift from ‘getting the numbers out’ to helping leaders steer the business.” Another is workforce, with Deloitte arguing that “the successful execution of strategic priorities will hinge on an insurer's ability to win the war for scarce digital and AI talent.”
On technology, Deloitte points to customer‑facing and operational applications of artificial intelligence. The report states that “the hyper-personalisation imperative will be taken to a new level by generative AI – It will evolve from real-time data to the re-imagination of the entire customer life cycle.” It also forecasts “insurers will pivot from broad AI experimentation to a ruthless focus on measurable ROI, leading to pruning of initiatives that fail to demonstrate tangible value.”
Regulation is another area identified for closer attention. Deloitte expects “regulatory pressure will intensify, moving beyond financial reporting to demand demonstrable progress on operational resilience (CPS 230), AI governance, and climate risk management.” In claims, the firm anticipates further use of automation and analytics, describing that “insurers will accelerate the deployment of AI, advanced analytics, and intelligent automation to build highly efficient, scalable, and more accurate claims functions.”
Climate and mental health round out the list of themes. On climate, Deloitte predicts “insurers will use more granular climate data and modelling to price risk, driving premium increases and tighter risk appetite in high-risk zones.” On mental health, it suggests that “the Australian insurance industry will be forced to take action on fundamentally reshaping its approach to mental health claims, moving from a reactive claims-based model to a proactive, preventative ecosystem built on cross-sector collaboration.” Deloitte concludes that 2026 “will demand bold, human-centric strategies from Australian insurers. It is the year to accelerate delivery of strategic priorities through better use of human and non-human workforce.”
