Direct written premiums (DWP) refer to the total amount of premiums written by an insurance company within a certain period, without any adjustment for cancelations or reinsurance. In simple terms, it is the revenue an insurance company generates from underwriting insurance policies.

Insurance companies use DWP as a key performance indicator to measure their growth in the insurance market. It is an essential metric for assessing an insurer's financial well-being and market share. DWP tells us how much money an insurer has earned in premiums during a specific period.

DWPs are usually calculated annually and are derived by multiplying the premium charged for each policy by the number of policies written. They include premiums from all types of insurance policies underwritten by an insurer, such as auto, health, property and casualty, and life insurance.

DWPs reflect the insurer's ability to underwrite new policies and retain existing clients. Moreover, it helps insurers to identify trends, develop strategies, and assess risks associated with their policies. For investors, the DWP is one of the ways to evaluate an insurance company's performance and potential for growth.

In conclusion, Direct Written Premiums is a key metric in the insurance industry that measures an insurance company's revenue generation from underwriting policies and helps in assessing the company's financial strength and market share.