Berkshire Hathaway reported net earnings of US$25.7 billion for the second quarter, more than double the US$12.4 billion posted a year earlier, though the increase was driven largely by US$12.7 billion in investment gains that the company itself cautions are not indicative of underlying business performance. Operating earnings, the more relevant measure of the underlying businesses, rose to US$13.0 billion from US$11.2 billion.
For brokers across Asia, the relevant part of Berkshire's results sits with Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group (BHRG) and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), both active across the region.
Reinsurance capacity strengthened
BHRG, whose subsidiaries include National Indemnity Company, General Reinsurance Corporation and Transatlantic Reinsurance Company, posted improved underwriting results this quarter, helped by favourable prior-year reserve development and an absence of major catastrophe losses. General Re maintains a long-standing presence across Asian reinsurance markets.
For regional insurers ceding risk into Berkshire's reinsurance operations, or brokers placing large or complex commercial risks that draw on that capacity, this quarter's result points to continued capacity and stable terms at a time when Aon's Q2 2026 market report has flagged heightened underwriting scrutiny in marine, aviation and trade-related lines tied to Middle East-linked geopolitical risk, several of which have direct relevance to Asian trade flows.
BHSI's regional offices write directly into local markets
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance operates offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Macau and Dubai, underwriting commercial property, casualty, executive and professional lines and other specialty coverages across the region through brokers. BHSI has continued to expand its regional product range, including recent launches in commercial crime insurance and financial institution professional indemnity cover across Asia, and an expansion of its office network into Macau.
Berkshire's primary insurance group overall, which includes BHSI alongside its other primary carriers, saw premiums written decline modestly this quarter, with declines recorded at several individual units. Brokers with active BHSI relationships across the region should confirm current appetite and terms directly with their underwriting contacts, since this quarter's disclosed figures are reported at the group level rather than broken out by country or region.
Berkshire's US personal auto unit, GEICO, posted a weaker quarter on rising claims costs specific to that market; it has no operations in Asia.
