AIA Group Limited announced that value of new business (VONB) climbed 13% year-on-year on a constant-exchange-rate basis to US$1.76 billion for the three months ended 31 March 2026. Excluding Thailand, where the prior-year comparison was unusually high, VONB expanded 22%.

Annualised new premiums (ANP) increased 16% to US$3.15 billion, while the VONB margin remained robust at 56.0%, only 1.8 percentage points lower than a year earlier. Total weighted premium income rose 13% to US$14.87 billion.

Geographically, AIA China delivered 26% VONB growth, supported by its Premier Agency model and continued expansion into nine new provinces entered since 2019. Hong Kong recorded 21% growth, benefiting from both local demand and sales to Mainland Chinese visitor customers across agency, IFA and broker channels. Thailand’s VONB fell 18% against an extraordinary first-quarter 2025 base but remained 39% above the first quarter of 2024; ANP in Thailand advanced 7% as unit-linked sales grew. Singapore, Malaysia and the “Other Markets” segment posted positive contributions, with notable strength in Vietnam, the Philippines and Tata AIA Life in India.

Both agency and partnership channels contributed to overall expansion. Recruitment in the Premier Agency network increased by more than 20%, accompanied by higher agent productivity.

Under the new US$1.7 billion share repurchase programme launched on 30 March 2026, AIA had repurchased 56.7 million shares for approximately HK$4.81 billion (US$0.61 billion) up to 29 April 2026.

Management highlighted sustained structural growth drivers in Asia—favourable demographics, rising incomes and low insurance penetration—as key supports for future demand across protection, health, savings and retirement products, despite ongoing geopolitical and market volatility.