Estimates of insured loss assessments for floods that hit Germany and neighbouring countries in May and last month have revealed wide discrepancies.

Reports in insuranceNEWS.com.au today (see following three stories) show assessments by three major groups vary by more than $1.5 billion.

Munich Re says it was the most expensive catastrophe in the first half of this year, with insured losses at about $US3.9 billion ($4.25 billion).

Swiss Re says the figure is between $US3.5 billion and $US4.5 billion ($3.8 billion and $4.9 billion).

But in its June catastrophes report Aon Benfield estimates insured losses from the floods at $US5.3 billion ($5.78 billion).