Agriculture in an El Niño year: the view from China and India

A testing 2026 season is reshaping the outlook for agricultural (re)insurance in APAC.  

Against the backdrop of El Niño, insurers in China and India are assessing the impact of widespread weather losses while well-established government programmes and risk-sharing structures continue to evolve. 

In a new article published by Global Reinsurance during SIRC 2026 in Singapore, Howden Re shares its perspectives on what is changing in two of the region’s most important agricultural markets, and what it means for cedents and capital providers.  

Exploring in detail what is shaping the markets in India and China and how climate change, evolving policy and new data technologies are changing the game in each country the article provides a detailed perspective on a fast-changing space and ways to address the associated challenges and opportunities. 

Taking the overview Mike Xin, Managing Director and Head of Agriculture at Howden Re, says:

“In both markets, cedents and reinsurers should bring proven designs from other markets, invest in the data that make new cover insurable, and agree clear roles with the public sector.”

Mohammad Faizan Huq, Associate President and Head – Treaty Reinsurance, Agriculture & Climate Risk at Howden Re, adds:

“The answer to the challenges in these markets will depend as much on the quality of information cedents bring to the table as on the capacity available.”

Together, their perspectives show that the 2027 renewals will reward cedents that combine disciplined pricing with transparent data and a willingness to explore new structures, from parametric cover to solutions built around new risk-sharing models.