AIA Is Growing Across Asia - So Why Is Thailand a Market to Watch?
AIA Group delivered strong first-half 2026 results, with VONB reaching a record US$3.212 billion, up 10%, while OPAT per share increased 13%.
But one comparison stands out:
Group VONB: +10%
Group VONB excluding Thailand: +14%
The four-percentage-point gap puts Thailand among the markets worth watching.
It does not, however, automatically mean AIA Thailand's overall business is declining. VONB measures value created by new business rather than total earnings, while year-on-year comparisons can be significantly affected by product mix and the previous year's base.
AIA noted that Thailand benefited from exceptionally strong sales of higher-margin individual medical insurance products in H1 2025, creating a challenging comparison for 2026.
At Group level, momentum remains strong. Premier Agency VONB increased 11% excluding Thailand, while partnership distribution delivered 18% growth.
AIA also returned approximately US$3.6 billion to shareholders and increased its interim dividend by 10%.
IBiz News Perspective
The bigger question is therefore no longer simply whether AIA can continue growing.
What deserves attention is the widening difference in growth momentum across individual Asian markets — and how AIA adjusts its product mix and distribution strategy in markets such as Thailand where comparison bases are particularly demanding.
That could become an important indicator for the next phase of Asia's life and health insurance market.