SHAH ALAM, 27 July 2026 – Carlsberg Malaysia has achieved a historic milestone with the successful local production of ChongQing beer, making it the first brewer to brew a Chinese local beer brand outside of China. This achievement drew a delegation of leading Chinese media to Kuala Lumpur to witness first-hand how one of China's most recognised beer brands is expanding beyond its home market through local brewing as well as the growing influence of Chinese brands, food culture and dining experiences in Malaysia.

Originally crafted in Chongqing in 1958, ChongQing beer is one of China's most recognised local beer brands, carrying nearly 70 years of brewing heritage, shaped by China's vibrant food scene. ChongQing beer is one of Carlsberg China’s iconic brands within its portfolio. Carlsberg Malaysia sees it as a complementary fit to the growing demand of local beer market, whilst Carlsberg China sees Carlsberg Malaysia as a strategic fit for ChongQing beer’s regional expansion. Together, these competitive advantages have supported ChongQing beer’s expansion strategy, offering better drinking experience to consumers while preserving its Chinese heritage and provenance.

Designed with its signature light, refreshing and easy-drinking profile with 3.8% ABV, ChongQing beer is available in 490ml cans at 99 Speedmart outlets nationwide as part of its initial launch. The lager complements flavourful Chinese dishes and communal dining occasions, making it a natural fit for Malaysia's evolving food and beverage scene.

“In recent years, Malaysian consumers have shown growing interest in Chinese brands and lifestyles. Consumption occasions such as hotpot and Chinese cuisine have become increasingly popular. The introduction of ChongQing beer into the Malaysian beer market not only provides consumers with more choices, but also enriches the experience of Chinese dining culture," Stefano Clini, Managing Director of Carlsberg Malaysia said during a media interview.

"As the first brewery in the world to produce ChongQing beer outside China, we are proud to combine our brewing craftsmanship, product innovation expertise, nationwide route-to-market network to iconise ChongQing beer – being the first and only Chinese beer brewed in Malaysia," he elaborated.

The media delegation comprised representatives from leading Chinese media organisations including People's Daily Online Chongqing, Hualong Net, Upstream News, Chongqing Daily, Yicai, Western China International Communication Organization, Liangjiang TV, 21st Century Business Herald, National Business Daily and Chongqing WeMedia Association.

During the two-day visit, the media gained first-hand insights into the brewing, innovation and market journey behind ChongQing beer's first production outside China. Discussions centered on how ChongQing beer is evolving beyond its home market and the growing popularity of Chinese cuisine in Malaysia. They were impressed with the investment behind ChongQing beer that facilitated a growth beyond exports to local production overseas, a new milestone in the regional expansion of Chinese local brands.

From recipe alignment and brewing parameters to product specifications and quality validation, every stage of the process was carefully calibrated to ensure the beer brewed in Malaysia retains the same refreshing and approachable profile that consumers have come to associate with ChongQing beer.

A key contributor to this success was Roger Li, Regional Sustainability Director, Carlsberg Asia, who previously served as Supply Chain Director of Carlsberg Malaysia. He played a pivotal role in facilitating technical alignment and knowledge transfer between the China and Malaysia teams from August 2025 to June 2026. With more than 20 years of production and brewery management experience across Chongqing Brewery and Carlsberg China, Roger brought deep expertise in brewing operations and quality management.

"Having started my brewing career in ChongQing, it is especially meaningful to see this iconic beer brewed in Malaysia while preserving ChongQing beer’s refreshing, smooth and easy-drinking distinctive character that consumers have come know and enjoy. By brewing locally, ChongQing beer becomes more accessible to consumers while staying true to its distinctive character and quality,” said Roger.

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