The Insurance Authority (IA), Hong Kong’s independent statutory regulator for the insurance industry, has published provisional figures for the first six months of 2026, showing that total gross premiums increased by 35.5% year on year to HK $573.6 billion, while underwriting profit from inward reinsurance business rose significantly.
Released on 23 October 2026, the statistics cover long-term and general insurance business, including premium income, claims payments, underwriting results and assets held by insurers. All percentage changes cited below are measured against the corresponding period in 2025.
The IA reported that new office premiums for long-term insurance, excluding Retirement Scheme business, amounted to HK $275.2 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 58.4%.
Non-linked individual policies generated HK $262.9 billion in new premiums, up 57.8%. Of this amount, participating business accounted for HK$245.4 billion, an increase of 63.7%, while other non-linked individual business contributed HK $17.5 billion, up 4.9%. Premiums from linked individual business reached HK $12 billion, representing growth of 73.7%, according to the IA.
The regulator also recorded the issuance of around 33,000 Qualifying Deferred Annuity Policies during the six-month period. These policies generated HK $2.1 billion in premiums, accounting for 0.8% of total premiums from individual business.
Revenue premiums from existing long-term insurance policies totalled HK $509.9 billion, an increase of 39.7% compared with the first half of 2025, the IA said. Non-linked individual business contributed HK $465.8 billion, up 44.8%, while linked individual business generated HK $17.8 billion, representing a rise of 40%.
In contrast, revenue premiums from Retirement Scheme business fell by 16.7% to HK $22.2 billion. The IA also reported that claims and benefits paid under long-term insurance business declined by 6.3% to HK $179.8 billion.
At the end of June 2026, total assets associated with long-term insurance business stood at HK $5,831.5 billion, while net assets amounted to HK $799.2 billion, according to the IA.
The IA’s figures for general insurance showed that gross premiums rose by 9.1% to HK $63.7 billion in the first half of 2026. Direct onshore business generated HK $28.6 billion, an increase of 2%, while direct offshore business recorded HK $3 billion, up 13.1%.
For inward reinsurance, gross premiums from onshore business reached HK $4.5 billion, representing growth of 2.4%. Offshore inward reinsurance business generated HK $27.5 billion, an increase of 18.4%.
Net premiums across general insurance business increased by 5.7% to HK $42.1 billion. However, gross claims paid rose by 22.2% to HK $31.3 billion. The IA reported an overall operating profit of HK $9.6 billion, up 48.1% year on year, while underwriting profit increased by 253.1% to HK $5.8 billion.
Within direct general insurance, gross premiums grew by 3% to HK $31.7 billion, whereas net premiums decreased down by 0.7% to HK $20.9 billion. Gross claims paid increased by 37.9% to HK $19 billion, according to the regulator.
Onshore Accident & Health insurance remained the largest contributor to direct gross premiums, generating HK $14.3 billion, up 7.8%. Onshore Employees’ Compensation insurance recorded gross premiums of HK $3.5 billion, a decrease of 17.5%. Offshore Marine, Aviation and Transport insurance also registered an increase, with gross premiums rising by 18.1% to HK $1.5 billion.
The IA reported that underwriting profit from direct insurance business climbed by 241.3% to HK $4.7 billion. The increase was mainly associated with onshore Pecuniary Loss insurance, including mortgage guarantee business, which moved from a loss of HK $0.3 billion to a profit of HK $3.1 billion.
In the inward reinsurance segment, gross premiums increased by 15.8% to HK $32.1 billion, while net premiums rose by 12.9% to HK $21.3 billion. Gross claims paid reached HK $12.3 billion, up 3.9% from the same period a year earlier, the IA stated.
Offshore Property Damage insurance contributed HK $10.7 billion in gross premiums, representing an increase of 4%. Offshore Accident & Health insurance generated HK $7.2 billion, up 56.7%.
Underwriting profit from inward reinsurance business increased by 317.5% to HK $1.1 billion. According to the IA, offshore Property Damage insurance was the principal contributor to the result.
The IA’s figures also showed that, as at 30 June 2026, total assets held under general insurance business amounted to HK $358.5 billion, with net assets standing at HK $139.8 billion.
