Marine insurance is trying to cope

The evolution of international trade has prompted the French insurers to think about the opening of the sea highways and the new seawater courses created by the melting of the Arctic icebergs. Consideration is equally given to growth-proneregions, especially China, the second industrial power since the start of the year. Insurers areconcerned about the shrinking international trade in value and volume (respectively -27% and -10% in 2009) as well as about the decline of the insurable value that ensues. The turnover of marine insurers has dwindled down on the French market in 2009. The premiums of cargos in transit have decreased by 3.1% at 846 million EUR (1.212 billion USD).