Asia Pacific Breweries to quit Singapore production for Malaysia and Vietnam
As part of the transition, about 130 staff will be laid off over the next two years
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[SINGAPORE] Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS) will scale down its brewing operations in the Republic and transition to an import-based supply model over the next two years, it said on Tuesday (Mar 24).
Production will be shifted to established regional breweries in Malaysia and Vietnam to “support a more agile regional supply approach”, APBS noted. Its brewery in Tuas will be redeveloped to support regional logistics and innovation activities, including a pilot brewery.
As part of the transition, about 130 staff – out of a current workforce of 540 – will be laid off over the next two years, as the phase-down of large-scale brewing operations in Tuas is implemented until the end of 2027.
APBS, whose flagship brew is Tiger Beer, is a subsidiary of Amsterdam-based beer giant Heineken.
Kenneth Choo, managing director of Heineken Asia Pacific, said: “We recognise this is a difficult transition, and we are committed to supporting impacted colleagues with fairness, dignity and respect.
“Singapore will remain the home of Tiger Beer, and we will continue to invest in its future.”
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The transition comes as imported beers already make up a “significant part” of the Singapore market, accounting for around half of beer consumed. Malaysia, Vietnam and China are among the top source markets, APBS added.
Tiger Beer, which was first launched in 1932 in Singapore under a partnership between Heineken and Fraser and Neave, is now sold in more than 60 markets worldwide, with more than 95 per cent of its sales generated outside the city-state.
As part of the shift in its Singapore business model, Heineken will build regional logistics, as well as customer and consumer functions, in the Republic to support key import markets. These include commercial and innovation support, demand planning, packaging adaptation and export-market services.
Singapore, which serves as its Asia-Pacific base, will continue to house Heineken’s regional leadership.
The Republic will also continue to spearhead the beer giant’s generative artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. Its Global GenAI Lab, launched in Singapore in 2025, focuses on developing bespoke generative AI use cases with “clear business value”.
Early evaluations indicate opportunities to scale solutions in financial reporting, customer support and marketing, Heineken said in its latest annual report.
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