Asia Pacific Marine and Cargo Insurance

Marine & Cargo.

Features and key stories

Markel puts APAC at the heart of growth plans

Singapore GI reinsurance premiums top S$10bn in 2025

Port scene at sunset with red gantry cranes, stacked shipping containers, and a container ship; mountains in the distance.

Sunset over the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train bridge in India.

Large cargo ship navigating the Strait of Hormuz with containers onboard.

Traditional Japanese street lined with dark wooden shops, hanging signboards, and warm lanterns, with mountains in the background

Large cargo ship with blue upper hull and red bottom balanced on a thick rope, flags of Iran and the United States at each end, conveying geopolitical tension.

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Markel puts APAC at the heart of growth plans

Markel APAC head Sucheng Chang aims to nearly double the regional book within five years, with recent expansion setting the pace and new opportunities in view.

Singapore GI reinsurance premiums top S$10bn in 2025

Offshore business drove the 3.7% premium increase, but net claims incurred rose 11.8% and underwriting profit fell to its lowest level since 2021.

Hong Kong GI direct premiums rise 4.2% in Q1 as underwriting profit more than doubles

Pecuniary loss, a class dominated by mortgage guarantee business, delivered around 63% of the onshore market's undiscounted underwriting result, while offshore ships premiums rebounded amid war-risk r...

India's GI premiums accelerate 16% in June as health, motor and PA expand

Health, motor and personal accident insurance powered the industry's fastest YoY growth of 2026, while fire premiums continued to decline for a sixth straight month.

Hormuz war-risk rates climb again after brief easing in June

Renewed strikes on vessels have lifted Hormuz war-risk rates to around 2% to 4% of hull value, though they remain below March's highs.

Japan general insurers' underwriting performance improves as fire claims fall in FY2025

Fire insurance led Japan's non-life market improvement in FY2025, as claims fell sharply despite continued premium growth across major commercial lines.

Lloyd's Asia premiums flat in 2025 after four years of growth

A first fall in offshore business since 2020 offset continued onshore growth, while inward reinsurance set a new high.

India's GI premiums grow 9% in May as fire weakness persists

A fifth straight decline in fire premiums was offset by growth in health and motor, alongside sharp gains in aviation, marine and personal accident.

Korea non-life insurers post 4.9% Q1 premium growth, but profits fall on higher claims, weaker investments

Claims and investment pressure dragged net income down 10.7% year-on-year, even as long-term non-life premiums held firm and GI growth accelerated.

Some insurers ease Hormuz rates on US-Iran deal hopes, but pre-war pricing hinges on stability

Early cuts of up to 40% have surfaced, though pricing stays patchy and a history of broken ceasefires leaves many insurers reluctant to move fast.

Singapore GI market flat in Q1 2026 as claims fall and underwriting results hold steady

Direct premiums slipped 0.4%, with onshore credit, aviation hull leading premium growth, while offshore property and cargo dragged.

India GI premiums reach new heights as health, cargo and personal accident offset April fire slump

Several major lines helped contribute to record monthly premiums, cushioning a sharp pullback in fire, where coverage remains thin.

Korea launches marine war-risk pool for ships in the Strait of Hormuz

The KRW300bn (US$197.5m) facility aims to ease costs and secure cover for smaller Korean shipping firms exposed to heightened Middle East risks.

Standard Club faces higher exposure after Australia court rejects liability cap on wreck claims

Australia's High Court ruled that wreck removal claims excluded under Australia's maritime reservations cannot be capped by reclassifying them as property damage.

India rolls out war risk cover under US$1.5bn Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool

Three policies have been issued to Hoger Offshore and Marine, Vedanta Sterlite Copper and Balrampur Chini Mills, indicating early uptake by industrial and shipping‑linked corporates.

HK general insurers' underwriting profits soar 175% in 2025 as AIA leads health charge, P&I clubs drive offshore gains

The impact of the Wang Fuk Court fire offset some of the sector’s growth, with property damage profits falling sharply last year.

Aviation, personal accident continue to lead gains as India’s March GI premiums rise 8.4%

Aviation and personal accident posted another month of outsized gains, rising 78.9% and 27.6%, while miscellaneous and fire extended last month’s fall.

Hong Kong GI direct premiums fall 11% in Q4 as offshore contracts, but full-year profit rebounds

Offshore premiums halved, onshore property claims rose, but full-year profits jumped almost 175% in 2025.

India approves US$1.4bn Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool

Sovereign-backed scheme aims to cut reliance on foreign insurers and build domestic marine underwriting expertise.

Singapore reinsurance profits collapse in Q4 as incurred losses surge 98%

Offshore reinsurance swung into a SG$2.9m loss, while smaller onshore operations remained profitable amid a 49% property premium surge.