The fall was among the steepest globally and was driven by strong market capacity, increased insurer competition, and stable reinsurer participation.
India recorded some of the sharpest reductions across major insurance lines.
Property insurance rates fell by up to 45% in select segments, while directors and officers (D&O) liability rates declined by around 30% and cyber insurance rates also dropped by approximately 30%.
According to the report, the trend reflected robust reinsurer support, rising insurer participation, and relatively stable claims conditions.
Across the broader IMEA region, property insurance rates declined by about 10%, while casualty insurance rates fell 7% and financial and professional lines dropped 6%.
Cyber insurance saw a 14% decline regionally, the steepest among major categories, supported by expanding capacity and new market entrants, particularly in the Middle East.
Globally, commercial insurance rates fell by 5% in Q1 2026, marking the seventh consecutive quarterly decline after a prolonged period of increases over the previous seven years. The report attributed the sustained softening to higher competition among insurers, favourable loss conditions, and growing market capacity across most product lines.
In India, Marsh India experts said the current pricing environment reflects strong supply-side competition, but also noted that businesses may use the period to reassess risk transfer strategies and coverage structures as economic activity and asset values expand.
While pricing trends remain broadly soft across regions, the report noted that geopolitical tensions in parts of the Middle East have continued to influence capacity and claims activity in select insurance lines.
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First Published: May 8, 2026 11:33 AM IST
