Introduction
As we navigate 2025, the Excess & Surplus(E&S) market continues to demonstrate why it's one of the most dynamic and resilient sectors in the insurance industry. At Corix Insurance, we're seeing robust growth, creative solutions to emerging risks, and a clear shift in how brokers and carriers are approaching complex coverage challenges.
For our broker partners, staying ahead of these trends is essential to unlocking opportunities in today's rapidly evolving risk environment. Below are the top three trends currently shaping the E&S landscape-along with key data that highlight the strength and trajectory of the market.
01 Unprecedented Growth Across the E&S Sector
The E&S market is on a historic growth trajectory. According to the most recent data from the Wholesale & SpecialtyInsurance Association (WSIA), U.S. surplus lines premium reached an unprecedented $81 billion in 2024, representing a12.1% increase over 2023. This follows the remarkable 2023performance when premiums surged to $72.7 billion, up nearly 20% from the previous year.
Data suggests the growth is driven by a combination of rate adequacy, capacity constraints in admitted markets, and the continued expansion of new and emerging risks-particularly in high-demand classes like cyber liability, professional lines, and CAT-exposed property. In these segments, year-over year premium increases have consistently outpaced the broader market. In fact, Dowling & Partners estimates that34% of U.S. commercial business is now written in the E&S market, which is a dramatic increase from a decade ago.
We continue to see standard markets tighten underwriting guidelines and reduce capacity in challenging classes, which is why brokers are turning to the E&S market to get the flexibility, speed or coverages their clients require.
