BEIJING -- China's insurance intermediary institutions made 99.36 million yuan (US$12.42 million) last year, ending years of consecutive losses.

According to a latest report from China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), insurance brokers made 107.71 million yuan in profits last year. Surveyors and loss adjustors made 15.26 million yuan.

Insurance agencies recorded a loss of 23.61 million yuan, 34 percent less than that of 2005.

Wang Jian, official with the CIRC, attributed the improvement to more professional management and a booming insurance industry.

China's insurance sector raked in 564.1 billion yuan in premiums last year, up 14.4 percent on 2005.

By the end of 2006, China had 2,110 registered insurance intermediary institutions, including 1,563 agencies, 303 brokers and 244 insurance surveyors and loss adjustors.