Premiums invoiced by intermediated general insurance businesses totalled $9.66 billion for the six months to December 31, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) data shows.

The sum was down just 0.03% on the corresponding period in 2014.

More than $8 billion was placed with APRA-authorised general insurers (down 0.5%), while $908 million was placed with Lloyd’s underwriters (down 0.1%).

The amount placed with unauthorised foreign insurers (UFIs) grew 5.2% to $746 million, with the increase mainly due to fire and industrial special risks placements.

Singapore and the UK accounted for 77% of the sum placed with UFIs, and the high-value-insured exemption was used to place 78% of UFI business.

At December 31, 1625 intermediaries were licensed to conduct general insurance business.

Of these, 830 placed business direct with underwriters during the six months, while 32 placed all business through other Australian intermediaries and 763 placed no general insurance business.