17 Sep TOP 20 SURPLUS MARKETING STATISTICS 2026 REVEAL SHOCKING GLOBAL INVENTORY OPPORTUNITY EXPLOSION
Updated for 2026. This page has been fully refreshed with the latest surplus marketing statistics, inventory liquidation trends, and global resale market insights, grounded in recent industry surveys, retailer data, and supply chain reporting.
When I first started digging into surplus marketing statistics, I realized just how overlooked this corner of the market often is. Yet, the numbers tell a completely different story—one of growth, resilience, and shifting consumer demand. As someone who has worked alongside a leading marketing agency in New York, I’ve seen firsthand how businesses can unlock hidden opportunities when they understand where surplus fits into the bigger picture.
That’s why I wanted to share these insights with you—not as a data dump, but as a way to spark ideas, strategies, and maybe even new directions for your own work.
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TOP 20 SURPLUS MARKETING STATISTICS 2026 SHOWING SURGING DEMAND FOR EXCESS INVENTORY
Surplus Marketing Statistics #1 – Premium Growth of 12.1% in 2026
In 2026, AM Best’s January market segment report confirmed that E&S premium growth through Q3 2025 reached 9.7% year-over-year, moderating from the prior year’s 13.5% pace due to competitive pressures in cyber, commercial property, and D&O liability, while the overall E&S market share of total U.S. P&C premiums climbed to 12.3% in 2024, up from just 3.6% in 2000, signaling how structurally embedded surplus lines have become in the broader insurance ecosystem.
The U.S. surplus lines market recorded a 12.1% year-over-year premium growth in 2024 compared to 2023. This consistent growth highlights the demand for flexible, non-admitted coverage when standard insurers retreat. Businesses increasingly rely on surplus markets to cover risks in property, liability, and specialized areas. This upward trend underscores the adaptability of surplus lines under challenging economic conditions. It also shows how marketers can leverage growth narratives when presenting E&S coverage solutions to clients.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #2 – 28.8% Growth Over Three Years
In 2026, Swiss Re Institute’s sigma report titled “A New Phase for the US Surplus Lines Insurance Market” confirmed that after nearly a decade of rapid expansion, E&S growth is entering a more measured phase, with total surplus lines premiums surging to $46.2 billion in just the first half of 2025 alone, representing a 13.2% increase over the same period in 2024, and reinforcing that the three-year 28.8% expansion reflects a structural market shift rather than a cyclical anomaly.
Between 2022 and 2024, the surplus lines market expanded by 28.8%. Such sustained growth across multiple years indicates a fundamental market shift rather than a temporary spike. The statistic reflects how economic uncertainty and insurance gaps have forced businesses to seek alternatives. Marketers and agencies must frame this as proof of the market’s resilience and relevance. This momentum also signals greater opportunities for surplus insurers to expand their reach.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #3 – $81.6 Billion in Premiums Recorded in 2026
In 2026, Ryan Specialty CEO Tim Turner projected that his firm alone would write more than $30 billion in surplus lines premium by end of 2025, while the broader U.S. E&S market, which stamping offices in 15 states reported at $81.6 billion in full-year 2024 premiums, was already tracking well above that pace at $46.2 billion through just the first six months of 2025, according to WSIA mid-year data.
Stamping offices in 15 U.S. states reported $81.6 billion in surplus lines premiums during 2024. This is a staggering number that demonstrates how vital this market has become. It shows that surplus lines are no longer a niche but a major pillar of the overall insurance ecosystem. Marketers can highlight these figures to emphasize credibility and trust in surplus products. The size of this premium pool also reflects untapped business opportunities.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #4 – 9.5% Growth in Transactions
In 2026, WSIA’s mid-year 2025 report revealed that filings increased by 12.4% from just over 3.3 million in 2024, outpacing the 9.5% transaction growth recorded for the full year of 2024, with E&S brokers across the country reporting continued strong submission count increases and double-digit policy count growth even as rate pressures softened in select lines like commercial property and cyber.
In 2024, the number of premium-bearing transactions grew by 9.5%. Transaction growth often points to stronger customer adoption and market engagement. It means more businesses are choosing surplus lines for their risk management strategies. For marketers, this is proof that the segment has widespread appeal beyond just premium volume. It reflects both volume and trust, which are critical for long-term sustainability.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #5 – California Premium Growth of 2026
In 2026, the California Surplus Line Association reported that the state recorded $22.1 billion in surplus lines premium for 2025, a 5.7% increase from the prior year, while item counts surged by an extraordinary 30%, with CEO Benjamin J. McKay noting that “California’s surplus lines market in 2025 continued to reflect selective pressure rather than broad relief,” underscoring how the state’s complex risk landscape continues to drive non-admitted market activity despite signs of rate moderation.
California’s surplus lines premiums grew by 11.58% in 2024. The state’s transaction count also rose by 18.76%, signaling strong adoption. California’s large economy makes this a significant indicator for the overall U.S. surplus market. For marketers, it shows how local conditions can accelerate adoption of surplus coverage. These regional figures help tailor campaigns to specific state-level audiences.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #6 – Texas Growth of 13.8% in Premiums
In 2026, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas reported that the state posted a 9.8% increase in total surplus premium for 2025, with commercial property and commercial liability together accounting for 75.7% of all premium reported, demonstrating that Texas remains one of the most commercially active surplus lines states in the nation even as overall growth rates normalized from the double-digit peaks seen in 2024.
Texas recorded a 13.8% increase in surplus premiums in 2024. The number of transactions also rose by 11.7%, underscoring customer demand. This growth is tied to Texas’ diverse industries and expanding population. Surplus marketers should frame this as proof of E&S relevance in high-growth economies. The Texas case highlights how demographic and industrial growth fuel surplus adoption.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #7 – Florida Premiums Up by 10.5%
In 2026, the Florida Surplus Lines Service Office reported that Florida’s surplus lines premium grew by 1.8% in 2025 while item counts increased by 11.6%, with CEO Mark Shealy stating that “the state has entered a more stable phase of the market cycle,” further supported by January 2026 FSLSO data showing that surplus lines HO-3 policy counts increased by 22% from 2024 to 2025 even as total premium grew by only 5%, indicating improving availability and moderating pricing rather than continued escalation.
Florida’s surplus lines premiums increased by 10.5% in 2024. The state’s unique risk environment, including hurricanes, makes surplus coverage essential. This demonstrates how environmental challenges directly boost the surplus market. Marketers can position this as an example of resilience and adaptability. It shows that surplus lines thrive where traditional coverage may pull back.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #8 – New York and Illinois Combined Growth
In 2026, New York continued to lead in regional E&S momentum, posting an 18.6% increase in surplus lines premiums and a 20.9% rise in transactions during just the first half of 2025, according to WSIA mid-year data, making it one of the fastest-growing major-state markets in the country and demonstrating that financial and commercial hub economies continue to generate outsized demand for non-admitted coverage solutions.
In 2024, New York recorded $9.2 billion in surplus premiums, a 13.1% increase. Illinois reached $4.4 billion, reflecting a 10.3% growth. Together, they highlight the strength of surplus lines in major financial and commercial hubs. Marketers can showcase these states as benchmarks for market credibility. It proves surplus lines are equally relevant in both coastal and midwestern economies.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #9 – Liability Coverage Accounts for 37%
In 2026, liability (non-professional) remained the single largest segment of the E&S market, accounting for 38.1% of total surplus premium through full-year 2025 and growing 11.7% year-over-year, according to January 2026 data from Insurance Business, with commercial auto, directors’ and officers’ liability, cyber liability, and legal cannabis risks all increasingly finding their way to the E&S segment on a more frequent basis as social inflation and nuclear verdicts continue to drive admitted carriers away from these lines.
Liability coverage, including aviation, general, and products liability, made up 37% of total premiums in 2024. This makes liability the largest segment in the surplus market. It reflects the heightened need for businesses to protect against legal and operational risks. Marketers can highlight this to emphasize coverage diversity. Liability’s dominance proves surplus lines’ importance in today’s litigation-heavy climate.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #10 – Property Coverage at 32.9%
In 2026, AM Best’s market segment outlook confirmed that commercial property coverage accounted for 34.0% of total first-half 2025 surplus lines premiums across stamping office states, growing 5.7% year-over-year even amid a softening property rate environment, with Amwins’ 2026 State of the Market report warning that Tier 1 property rates are approaching their floor and that just one major catastrophic storm event could abruptly reverse the softening trend and drive another wave of property risks into the surplus market.
Property-related surplus coverages represented 32.9% of premiums in 2024. This high share illustrates how property risks drive significant surplus demand. Catastrophic events and evolving risk landscapes continue to challenge traditional markets. Marketers should spotlight property as a gateway to surplus adoption. This statistic highlights property coverage as a key anchor of surplus marketing strategies.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #11 – Auto Liability Premiums Jump 61.1%
In 2026, WSIA’s mid-year 2025 data showed that surplus lines auto liability premiums surged by an additional 29.1% in the first half of 2025 alone compared to the same period in 2024, while S&P Global Market Intelligence projected that commercial auto combined ratios would reach 104.4 in 2026 and climb further to 106.3 by 2029, signaling that the auto liability surplus market will remain under sustained upward premium pressure as social inflation, nuclear verdicts, and rising repair costs continue to outpace underwriting capacity in admitted markets.
Auto liability premiums surged 61.1% in 2024, despite a 10.2% drop in transactions. This suggests that while fewer policies were issued, their value skyrocketed. Rising costs and risks are making surplus auto liability more expensive. Marketers can explain this as proof of the market’s adaptability in addressing high-risk sectors. It emphasizes the balance between fewer transactions but higher premium intensity.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #12 – Personal and Residential Lines at 4.9%
In 2026, WSIA’s mid-year 2025 report revealed that residential and personal property lines grew 24.8% in premium in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 5.3% of total stamping office surplus lines premium, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the entire E&S market as admitted carriers continued to retreat from catastrophe-exposed residential risks across multiple states including California, Florida, and Louisiana.
Residential and personal property lines accounted for 4.9% of premiums in 2024. Though relatively small, this sector is growing steadily. Consumers are turning to surplus lines where traditional insurers pull back. For marketers, this creates opportunities to highlight niche but growing segments. The stat reflects a diversification trend in surplus lines adoption.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #13 – Homeowners’ Premiums Doubled Since 2018
In 2026, January FSLSO data confirmed that surplus lines HO-3 policy counts in Florida increased by 22% from 2024 to 2025 while total premium grew by just 5%, indicating that Florida’s nearly one million new residents added between 2022 and 2024 are increasingly entering the surplus market, and that recent state legislative reforms are beginning to stabilize pricing, with average premiums per policy declining approximately 14% even as overall market participation continues to climb sharply.
Surplus homeowners’ premiums grew from $1 billion in 2018 to $2.2 billion in 2023. This doubling illustrates rapid growth in consumer reliance on surplus. Climate risks and admitted market exits fueled this increase. Marketers can leverage this growth to position surplus lines as a dependable alternative. It also shows strong consumer willingness to explore non-admitted insurance.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #14 – Four States Dominate 75% of Premiums
In 2026, the continued dominance of California, Florida, Texas, and New York is reinforced by updated 2025 data showing California alone generated $22.1 billion in surplus premium with a 30% surge in item counts, Texas posted a 9.8% premium increase with commercial property and liability comprising 75.7% of its total, and New York delivered an 18.6% premium increase with a 20.9% transaction gain in just the first half of 2025, collectively demonstrating that these four states remain the undisputed engine of U.S. surplus lines activity.
California, Florida, Texas, and New York account for more than 75% of surplus premiums. This concentration highlights the regional dominance of large economies. For marketers, these states can be prioritized for campaigns. The data shows where surplus adoption is heaviest and most promising. It emphasizes the importance of targeting high-growth regions.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #15 – E&S Market Size of $135 Billion
In 2026, AM Best confirmed that the E&S sector’s share of total U.S. property/casualty premium reached 12.3% in 2024, up dramatically from just 3.6% in 2000, while Ryan Specialty CEO Tim Turner projected that the surplus market would write more than $30 billion through his firm alone by end of 2025, with RPS’s Matt Lynch estimating the E&S sector now represents 20% to 25% of the entire insurance industry, nearly double what it was just 15 years ago when it represented only 10%.
In 2024, the U.S. E&S market reached $135 billion in premiums. This size makes surplus lines a heavyweight in the insurance industry. It signals maturity and long-term sustainability. Marketers should emphasize this milestone to build credibility. Such numbers create confidence for businesses considering surplus coverage.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #16 – Slower Growth from Peak Years
In 2026, AM Best’s March report confirmed that net premiums written for the broader P&C industry increased 6.1% in 2025 compared to 8.7% in 2024, and projected lower net premium growth in 2026 across commercial lines with a combined ratio forecast of 96.3 versus 95.8 in 2025, while Swiss Re Institute projected total industry direct written premium growth of just 4% for 2026, a substantial deceleration from the 32.3% peak seen in 2021, which AM Best characterized as a stabilization driven by competitive capacity, rate softening in property and cyber, and slowing economic exposure growth.
The market grew by 12.5% in 2024, compared to 14.4% in 2023 and 32.3% in 2021. This deceleration suggests stabilization after peak years. Growth remains positive, though not as dramatic. Marketers can present this as a sign of maturity rather than decline. It shows surplus lines are becoming a consistent and reliable option.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #17 – 9.2% of Total U.S. P&C Premiums in 2026
In 2026, AM Best confirmed that the E&S market’s share of total U.S. property/casualty premium climbed to 12.3% in 2024, a landmark figure that represents more than a tripling of the 3.6% share the segment held in 2000, with AM Best’s 2026 Market Segment Outlook maintaining a Positive outlook for E&S carriers and noting that the flow of risk to the non-admitted market “was one of the defining factors” of 2025 according to their March 2026 P&C industry report.
Surplus lines made up 9.2% of U.S. property and casualty premiums in 2023. This was up from 8.8% in 2022. The steady increase shows surplus lines are gaining a larger market share. Marketers can emphasize this rising contribution to highlight relevance. It marks surplus as an indispensable part of the P&C sector.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #18 – Underperforming Admitted Markets
In 2026, AM Best reported that three commercial lines, specifically commercial auto (103.5), medical professional liability (106), and other/products liability (108), posted combined ratios above 100 in 2025, while S&P Global Market Intelligence projected commercial auto combined ratios would remain at 104.4 in 2026 and worsen further to 106.3 by 2029, making it one of the most persistently unprofitable admitted lines and a key ongoing driver pushing commercial auto risks into the surplus market.
Some admitted markets, like homeowners and commercial auto, reported multi-year combined loss ratios above 100%. This reflects unprofitability in traditional coverage areas. Surplus lines step in where admitted carriers withdraw. Marketers can frame surplus as a solution to admitted market struggles. It shows how surplus thrives in challenging segments.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #19 – Flexibility in Rate and Form
In 2026, Amwins’ State of the Market report highlighted that Lloyd’s aggregate stamp capacity is projected to increase by 4%, with line size expansion expected from the majority of domestic carriers, MGAs, and Lloyd’s of London, while AM Best’s 2026 outlook specifically cited surplus carriers’ freedom to charge premiums commensurate with risk and craft customized coverage language without prior regulatory approval as the core competency driving E&S carriers’ ability to outperform admitted market peers on both top-line growth and underwriting results.
Surplus lines insurers leverage their freedom of rate and form to adapt. This flexibility allows them to cover complex or emerging risks. It makes surplus lines more innovative than many admitted carriers. Marketers can highlight this adaptability to appeal to businesses seeking tailored solutions. This stat demonstrates a core advantage of surplus over traditional markets.
Surplus Marketing Statistics #20 – Shift from Admitted to Surplus Coverage
In 2026, the January data from Insurance Business confirmed that smaller states such as Oregon (+23.8%), Utah (+21.4%), Pennsylvania (+16.2%), and Arizona (+15.8%) posted some of the highest surplus lines premium growth rates of 2025 as admitted carriers continued to pull back from complex risks, while AM Best noted that homeowners’ business driven to the surplus market by weather-related catastrophes, higher raw material costs, and supply chain disruptions has become a defining structural trend, with the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires alone contributing roughly 3 percentage points to the industry’s 2025 net combined ratio and accelerating further admitted market retreat.
Many states, including California, saw admitted carriers reduce or exit homeowners’ insurance. Surplus lines filled the gap, proving their importance. This shift highlights the reliance on surplus when admitted markets retreat. Marketers can present this as a compelling reason to consider surplus solutions. It reflects a fundamental change in how insurance markets operate today.
SURPLUS MARKETING STATISTICS 2026 REVEAL MASSIVE MARKET OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESSES CAN’T IGNORE
Looking back on these trends, I can honestly say surplus marketing is no longer a “secondary” option—it’s a critical driver for industries that need flexibility and fresh thinking. My biggest takeaway is that by paying attention to these shifts, you and I can stay ahead of the curve instead of reacting after the fact. For me, writing this has been more than just compiling numbers; it’s about connecting the dots between data and real-world decisions. I hope you leave this with the same sense of possibility I feel—because the opportunities in surplus aren’t slowing down anytime soon. In 2026, global retailers and manufacturers are increasingly turning surplus inventory into strategic revenue streams through resale platforms, liquidation networks, and data-driven marketing campaigns.
SOURCES
https://www.insurancejournal.com/magazines/mag-features/2025/09/08/838010.htm
https://riskandinsurance.com/surplus-lines-premiums-surge-to-46-2-billion-in-first-half-of-2025/
https://www.carriermanagement.com/news/2025/06/25/276668.htm
https://pages.marketintelligence.spglobal.com/2024-US-Insurance-Excess-Surplus-Market-Report.html
https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2025/05/08/822819.htm
https://www.fitchratings.com/research/insurance/us-excess-surplus-lines-market-review-11-09-2024