Hong Kong-listed AIA Group, the parent company of AIA Australia, has recorded a rise in first-half operating profit after tax to $US3.2 billion ($4.4 billion) from $US2.9 billion ($4 billion) a year earlier.

The business says its Other Markets division - which refers to operations in Australia and ten other regional economies - made $US391 million ($538 million) in operating profit, up from $US333 million ($458 million).

AIA Group does not give a breakdown of individual results for the 11 businesses in the Other Markets division.

Other Markets booked a rise in value of new business to $US253 million ($348 million) from $US240 million ($330 million).

S&P Global Ratings says AIA Group’s first-half results demonstrate the business’s resilience to COVID-related challenges.

“AIA’s key markets in Southeast Asia continued to deliver strong growth despite the resurgence of COVID-19 amid slow vaccine rollouts,” the rating agency said.

“In our view, the insurer's accelerated adaptation of digitalisation in business operations and agency recruitment and training coupled with its established tied agency and growing partnerships carried it through such challenging conditions.”