The value of Australian superannuation funds fell by 1% in the three months ended 31 March 2026 but rose 7.9% over 12 months, according to data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
Releasing its Quarterly Superannuation Performance publication for the March 2026 quarter, APRA said sector assets were A$4.44 trillion at 31 March 2026, down from $4.49 trillion at 31 December 2025 but up from $4.11 trillion at 31 March 2025.
The regulator said in a statement that APRA-regulated assets rose 8.7% to $3.14 trillion over 12 months, with self-managed superannuation (SMSF) assets rising 7.0% to $1.06 trillion.
Among the APRA-regulated funds, industry funds showed the most growth in assets across the year, rising 9.8% to $1.63 trillion, outpacing retail funds (8.8% to $868.2 billion), public sector (6.1% to $604.3 billion) and corporate funds (0.5% to $36.6 billion.
But as fund assets fell in the March quarter due to lower returns, retail funds fared the worst with values falling 2.6%, followed by corporate funds (2.4%), industry funds (0.8%) and public sector (0.6%).
Total contributions increased by 11.3% to $226.1 billion in the 12 months ended 31 March, of which employer contributions rose 8.4% to $159.7 billion and member contributions jumped 19.1% to $66.3 billion.
Benefit payments also increased by 12.3% to $143.5 billion, as lump sum payments rose 13.6% to $79.7 billion and pension payments added 10.7% to $63.8 billion.
APRA also reported super funds generated a return of 7.4% in the 12 months to 31 March, up from 5.0% a year earlier, with a five-year annualised return of 6.1% (8.1%).
Industry funds made up 52% of the assets held by APRA-regulated funds at 31 December, with retail funds holding 28%, public sector funds 19% and corporate funds 1%.
