China Resources Beer to Divest Additional Brewery Assets, Closing Three Plants Over Three Years

China Resources Beer (00291.HK) has initiated another round of asset transfers, listing multiple brewery facilities for disposal through the official WeChat account of the Shanghai United Assets and Equity Exchange. Among the assets being promoted are the Snow Beer factories located in Zhumadian, Shantou, and Dazhou.

Since April 2024, China Resources Beer has consistently posted asset disposal projects via the platform, primarily targeting brewery properties across different regions. The Zhumadian site, for instance, spans 200 mu of state-owned industrial land with usage rights extending to 2061. The facility comprises approximately 38,000 square meters of reinforced concrete structures and is fully equipped with essential utilities. The plant includes an advanced automated beer production line featuring mature process control systems. Core equipment includes yeast propagation units, brewing water purification systems, and automated mashing and fermentation lines. Supplementary infrastructure includes CO₂ recovery, power distribution, and wastewater treatment systems. All machinery is currently preserved in optimal condition, maintained for stability, and capable of rapid reactivation. The spatial layout is also designed for flexible reconfiguration, suitable for both mass-scale manufacturing and small-batch craft operations.

In response to inquiries, China Resources Beer confirmed that the divestments are aimed at phasing out outdated facilities. The company noted that existing base plants in Chengdu, Sichuan Province and Henan Province are sufficient to meet current production needs. The assets being sold tend to be those with lower capacity and aging infrastructure.

The consolidation of brewery operations to improve capacity utilization is not new. China Resources Beer began rationalizing its plant network years ago. According to media reports, the company has shuttered 36 breweries over the past eight years.

As disclosed in its 2024 annual report, China Resources Beer operated 62 breweries during the reporting period. This reflects a reduction from 65 plants at the end of 2021, indicating three closures over the last three years. In 2021 alone, the company ceased operations at five breweries as part of an effort to streamline its production footprint and optimize efficiency. The geographical distribution of China Resources Beer’s brewery network in 2024 was also detailed in its most recent annual report.