SIRC 2026

In a market awash with capacity, know-how becomes the currency.

Large multinational companies are increasingly considering standalone political violence cover while SRCC is commonly incorporated into property insurance in parts of Asia.

The global insurance marketplace targets greater engagement across the region, says CEO for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa Emma Loynes

As AI lowers barriers to technical proficiency, industry leaders say the ability to navigate ambiguity could become a more valuable career asset.

Lenders and investors are pulling parametric cover into Asia's renewable-energy financing as insurers refine triggers and eye grid and storage assets.

Across APAC, legal fragmentation and lingering misconceptions continue to limit the use of retrospective solutions, SIRC panellists said.

COO Grishin sees expansion opportunities in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, but growth will be driven primarily by existing clients in Vietnam and Indonesia.

Structured reinsurance is regaining momentum as insurers seek more sustainable ways to absorb retained losses and accumulation risk, speakers said.

Swiss Re’s P&C reinsurance chief underwriting officer says accumulation at hyperscaler sites will leave lenders’ required limits unplaced, even as interconnected risks reported by firms have risen 24% since 2019.

India and China are pushing to keep more risk onshore, but London and Bermuda will remain centres for retrocession, alternative capital and nat cat.

Executives from Lloyd’s, Peak Re and ERGO say claims inflation, misread war-risk terms and a wide protection gap are testing (re)insurers as they follow clients into new markets.

The reinsurer's head of P&C for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Korea expects risk concentrations around data centres and semiconductors, along with secondary perils, to be the focus of talks at the 1 January 2027 renewals.

The carrier is prioritising platform integration, talent and capabilities over product launches as it looks to 2027. 

The initiative aims to address fragmented insurance capacity and increasingly complex risks as data centre investments expand across Asia Pacific.

Ahead of its SIRC briefing, the rating agency says softer renewals underpin stable outlooks, but underwriting discipline, geopolitical repricing and balance-sheet resilience will shape credit views into the next cycle. 

Brokers say Asian cedents are using softer rates to strengthen their reinsurance protection, not just to cut costs.

Led by Jessica Schappell, the specialist insurer is leveraging its expanded platform under Zurich to corner high-margin, specialist risks across Asia Pacific.

Gallagher Re’s new APAC CEO Roshan Perera sees renewable energy, EV supply chains and data centres driving demand for specialist reinsurance and advisory solutions.

Speaking at SIRC 2026, SCOR’s Thierry Léger argues capital should only follow capability, warning that rushing capacity into AI and data centres risks repeating costly mistakes.

The association’s handbook sets out a five-stage assessment for underwriting, claims and risk teams, covering third-party dependencies and portfolio concentration.

The regulator is pushing insurers to finance infrastructure as well as insure it, while a planned US$200m data centre insurance facility aims to anchor regional risk capacity in Singapore.

Insurers are increasingly looking to invest in growth initiatives, while reinsurers are differentiating through expertise and solutions rather than capacity alone, says Hitesh Kotak, chief executive for Japan, India, Korea and Southeast Asia.

The hub has succeeded in attracting capital and reinsurers; now the challenge lies in developing the expertise needed to underwrite complex risks locally.

Marsh Re’s new Japan and Pacific heads, Andrew Hare and Justin Ward, say capital is reshaping the reinsurance conversation, from Japan’s solvency regime to growing interest in alternative capital in Australia and New Zealand.

Physical risks are well understood, but other exposures could be underestimated.

Karl Marshall wants clients to see the full range of outcomes behind a model result, not a single figure, and says AI should support specialists rather than replace them.

As capital requirements evolve and market volatility persists, insurers are seeking more sophisticated ways of managing risk

Established domestic franchises, selective underwriting and capital buffers could support creditworthiness over the next two years.

With international markets still central to space risk placements, the city needs to bridge the gap by building specialist capabilities.

Industry experts expect future asset-intensive reinsurance (AIR) growth to hinge on access to third-party capacity, suitable matching assets and demonstrable risk transfer.

Facultative is evolving from an overflow tool into a strategic one, but with capacity plentiful, reinsurers are being asked to do more for less.

Insurance-linked securities, captives and other alternative capital structures are increasingly important tools for supporting Asia's rising infrastructure risk exposures, the regulator said.

From expanding Hong Kong's influence across the global maritime value chain to developing specialty insurance products for mainland companies going global, the plan outlines an ambitious growth agenda for the sector.

Asia's commercial space sector is expanding faster than local insurance capacity, leaving operators reliant on overseas reinsurers as orbital congestion emerges as a new underwriting risk.

Pricing adequacy set the agenda for the US and Europe at RVS 2026, but APAC discussions centred on growth and innovation.

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.

As operators assume greater responsibility for power infrastructure, insurers face new questions around batteries, construction, curtailment and BI coverage.

More than 80% of insurers have already met OJK's 2026 requirements, but experts say capital alone will not fix weak fundamentals as tougher 2028 rules loom.