China Insurance Sector Posts Steady Growth in First Half of 2026

Int’l Desk: China’s insurance sector posted steady results in the first half of 2026, maintaining overall stability while continuing to refine its business mix, according to figures released by the China Insurance Association at its second regular press conference on 31 July 2026.

Original insurance premium income reached 3.86 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 3.3 percent, while claims and benefit payments totalled 1.40 trillion yuan, up 3.8 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Property and casualty insurers collected 984.6 billion yuan in premiums, rising 2.1 percent, and paid out 530.4 billion yuan in claims, an increase of 2.2 percent. Motor insurance premiums remained essentially flat as average premiums continued their downward trend, yet non-motor lines expanded 3.9 percent and now account for more than half of the property and casualty book, up from roughly a quarter a decade ago. Within that segment, health insurance stood out with growth of 15.2 percent, accelerating by 6.1 percentage points compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

Life and personal insurance companies generated 2.87 trillion yuan in premiums, a 3.6 percent rise, and disbursed 866.8 billion yuan in claims and benefits, up 4.8 percent. Participating products recorded particularly strong demand, with original premiums climbing to 1.01 trillion yuan, a surge of 94.4 percent that underscored a clear shift in consumer preference toward products offering greater flexibility and shared returns.

Foreign-invested insurers outperformed the broader market, posting premium income of 374.7 billion yuan, up 12.4 percent and 9.1 percentage points above the industry average. Their market share expanded from 8.9 percent a year earlier to 9.7 percent, reflecting continued confidence among overseas participants.

Association officials noted that the industry expects the second half of the year to sustain a pattern of steady progress. The data illustrate a sector that is no longer chasing pure volume growth but is instead concentrating on quality, with non-motor coverage, health protection and participating life products gaining ground while traditional motor business matures.

The combination of moderate overall expansion and marked internal rebalancing points to an insurance market adapting deliberately to changing economic conditions and shifting household needs.