The Hong Kong Insurance Authority released provisional statistics showing total insurance gross premiums rose 35.5% year on year to HKD 573.6 billion in the first half of 2026. Long term business drove the increase, with revenue premiums rising 39.7% to HKD 509.9 billion. General insurance gross premiums grew 9.1% to HKD 63.7 billion, while underwriting profit increased 253.1% to HKD 5.8 billion. New office premiums for long term business, excluding retirement scheme business, rose 58.4% to HKD 275.2 billion. Participating individual business accounted for HKD 245.4 billion, up 63.7%. Within in-force business, non-linked individual revenue premiums increased 44.8% to HKD 465.8 billion, while retirement scheme revenue premiums fell 16.7% to HKD 22.2 billion. Total claims and benefits paid declined 6.3% to HKD 179.8 billion. General insurance growth was stronger in inward reinsurance, where gross premiums rose 15.8% to HKD 32.1 billion, than in direct business, which grew 3% to HKD 31.7 billion. Direct business underwriting profit increased 241.3% to HKD 4.7 billion, primarily reflecting a turnaround in onshore pecuniary loss business, including mortgage guarantees, from a HKD 0.3 billion loss to a HKD 3.1 billion profit. Inward reinsurance underwriting profit rose 317.5% to HKD 1.1 billion, mainly supported by offshore property damage business. Overall general insurance operating profit increased 48.1% to HKD 9.6 billion, despite a 22.2% rise in gross claims paid to HKD 31.3 billion.

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