The proportion of income from premiums earned abroad has increased to 56%, with Czechia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Türkiye and Slovakia remaining the most important markets.
Austria’s five internationally active insurance groups have expanded their foreign business further in 2025. The premium volume earned abroad stood at €14.3 billion, a 10.7% increase over the previous year. As a result, foreign business again surpassed domestic business, with the latter posting premium volume of €11.3 billion; the proportion of foreign business increased to 56%. These figures appeared in the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) publication Foreign Insurance Business Report 2026, which was published today.
“Foreign business has long been a key component of Austrian insurers’ business models” remarked FMA Executive Director Mariana Kühnel. “Their broad regional presence opens up growth opportunities in various markets, and helps to better cushion the impact of economic developments in individual countries. Closely coordinated cross-border supervision is essential. As the group supervisor, the FMA is engaged in ongoing dialogue with the respective local supervisory authorities, especially through European supervisory colleges.”
Austrian insurers continue to focus their activities on markets in Central Eastern and South Eastern Europe. Czechia and Poland are the most significant markets, accounting for 22% and 18% of foreign premium volume respectively. Romania, Hungary, Türkiye and Slovakia are further key markets, each with over 5% of foreign premium volume. Around 70% of total foreign premium volume comes from these six markets.
The highest market share of Austrian companies are in Czechia and Slovakia, with market share of just over 40% in each country, following by Lithuania with 35% and Romania with 33%. In the current year, the FMA however expects a significant shift in geographical focus due to Vienna Insurance Group’s takeover of the Germany’s Nürnberger Versicherung. The FMA views the markets of EU accession candidates as particularly significant, as in addition to prospects of growth, there are also issues relating to convergence and cooperation between supervisory authorities.
The full Foreign Insurance Business Report can be found on the FMA website.