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Directory / Malaysia

Distilleries and liquor manufacturers in Malaysia

37 producers listed, including 1 bulk or neutral spirit.

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Malaysia at a glance

Population
36.0 million (2025)
GDP
US$472.2 billion (2025)
GDP per person
US$13,125 (2025)
Capital
Kuala Lumpur (federal administrative capital: Putrajaya)
Currency
Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
Languages
Malay
Climate
Equatorial, hot and humid all year, with a southwest monsoon April to October and a northeast monsoon October to February; average annual rainfall about 2,500 mm. No cold season, so ageing is fast and humidity control matters for storage.
Alcohol status
legal with restrictions (prohibited for Muslims; mostly banned for Muslims in Kelantan and Terengganu)
Legal drinking age
21 for non-Muslims (raised from 18 on 16 October 2018); prohibited for Muslims
Alcohol per adult
0.9 litres of pure alcohol a year (2019, WHO)
Spirits imports
US$343.8 million (2024); mainly from France, United Kingdom, Singapore, China
Spirits exports
US$171.0 million (2024); mainly to Singapore, Thailand, China, Viet Nam
Import duty on spirits
Standard (MFN) rate 2023: whisky specific/compound duty, WITS AVE estimate about 0.0%; vodka specific/compound duty, WITS AVE estimate about 0.0%; rum specific/compound duty, WITS AVE estimate about 0.0%; gin specific/compound duty, WITS AVE estimate about 0.0%
Popular brands
Tiger Beer (Malayan Breweries / Guinness Anchor Berhad lineage (current owner not verified)), Carlsberg (Carlsberg Malaysia)
Major producers
Guinness Anchor Berhad, Carlsberg Malaysia
The market
Beer and stout dominate. Two licensed brewers, Guinness Anchor Berhad and Carlsberg Malaysia, were reported to make about 95% of beer and stout volume (older Wikipedia summary, year not stated). Spirits are mostly imported: declared HS 2208 imports were about USD 344 million in 2024, led by France and the UK, and declared exports were about USD 171 million (mostly to Singapore and neighbouring countries). A 2016 report by the International Organisation of Good Templars ranked the Malaysian alcohol tax third highest in the world.
Importing
Per a consumer guide (not official): imported drinks pay customs duty on landed value, excise on spirits of about RM150 per litre of 100% alcohol, and 10% sales tax (SST) charged on value plus duty plus excise; Langkawi, Labuan and Tioman are duty-free for alcohol. Sellers of liquor and spirits need a licence, and the minimum purchase age is 21. Malaysia excluded alcohol from its AANZFTA tariff commitments. Confirm current rates with Royal Malaysian Customs.
Advertising
WHO country profile (2018 edition, data c.2016): legally binding national rules - advertising: yes; product placement: yes; sponsorship: yes; sales promotion: no; health-warning requirement - on adverts: no; on containers: yes. Status may have changed since; check current national advertising code.
Sale restrictions
Venues need a licence to serve draught beer, liquor and spirits; bottled and canned beer is exempt; stores must keep alcohol separate; sale to Muslims is prohibited. In Sabah and Sarawak indigenous people may sell native drinks without a licence (Wikipedia, undated).

Regulators: Royal Malaysian Customs Department - excise duty, import control, duty-free islands, Ministry of Health - age limit and health-warning rules, Local councils and state authorities - liquor sale licences and outlet rules

Trade bodies and fairs: Malaysia International Food & Beverage Exhibition (MIFB), ProWine Singapore, Vinexpo Asia, Hong Kong

Compiled by Distillers Hub in October 2026 from the World Bank, WHO, UN Comtrade, the WITS tariff database and the sources below. Figures change: check with the regulator or a customs broker before you act.

Sources (16)

About Malaysia

Malaysia is located in Southeast Asia, divided into Peninsular Malaysia and Malaysian Borneo. Malay is the official language, while English, Chinese, and Tamil are also widely spoken. The nation's trade-driven economy is recognized globally for manufacturing, electronics, and rich natural resource production.

The spirits market

Alcohol is legal but restricted; sales are prohibited to Muslims and the legal drinking age is 21. Imports require an Approved Permit through registered companies and face a 15% import duty, RM150 per 100% litre of pure alcohol plus 15% ad valorem excise duty, and 10% SST. Local producers manufacture items including compounded hard liquor, samsu, vodka, and gin. Exporters find opportunities in premium whiskies, aged rums, and tequilas targeting urban non-Muslim venues and duty-free zones like Langkawi.

Licences, import duty and labelling rules in Malaysia

Spirits importers and distributors in Malaysia

Duty-free and travel-retail shops in Malaysia

Who makes liquor in Malaysia? This list covers 37 liquor manufacturers and distilleries — Thye Guan General Merchants (M) Sdn Bhd, Joo Lee Chan Sdn Bhd, Winepak Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd, Tong Ah Distillery (Tong Ah Company Sdn Bhd) and more: whisky, rum, gin, vodka, brandy, neutral spirit (ENA) and local spirits producers, with their towns, products and websites. See also how to import or export liquor to Malaysia and the licences needed to make it there.

Listings are compiled from public sources. Companies marked Verified have confirmed their details. If this is your company, claim the profile free to correct it, or ask us to remove it. Not listed? Add your company free.

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