Export of Prefabricated Houses with Finished Steel Structures

China's export of prefabricated houses with finished steel structures has witnessed remarkable growth, with products covering over 150 countries and regions worldwide. The core advantages lie in the full industrial chain support and efficient delivery capabilities.

Export Scale and Market Distribution

In the first half of 2026, China's export volume of prefabricated buildings reached $2.79 billion, a year-on-year increase of 45%. Among them, the export volume of steel-structured modular building units surged by nearly 230% in the first five months. The market distribution is characterized by diversification:

• The ASEAN region stands out with significant growth, becoming a major incremental market;
• Over 20 countries and regions, including the UK, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, have shown strong demand. For example, Guangdong CIMC Architectural Manufacturing Co., Ltd.'s products cover these markets, with recent deliveries including an office building in Cameroon, staff dormitories in Indonesia, an oil and gas camp in Australia, and a retirement apartment in the UK;
• The Saudi Arabian market has performed exceptionally well. From January to October 2024, the value of goods exported to Saudi Arabia under the supervision of the Shatian Customs reached 281 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.32 times, mainly involving portable houses and steel structural components.

Core Product Advantages

1. Rapid Delivery: Steel-structured modular building units are prefabricated in factories and then transported to the site for assembly, significantly shortening the construction period. For instance, the 63 modules of a modular retirement apartment purchased by a UK merchant were hoisted and installed within two weeks after arrival at the port; the traditional construction of a hotel project in Papua New Guinea would take 14-18 months, but the construction period was significantly reduced after adopting Chinese modular buildings.
2. Environmental Protection, Energy Efficiency, and Quality Control: Factory-based production reduces on-site construction pollution and ensures stable quality through standardized processes.
3. Strong Adaptability: Customized designs can be tailored to the needs of different countries and regions, covering multiple scenarios such as retirement apartments, office buildings, staff dormitories, and oil and gas camps.

Core Reasons for Growth

1. Unique Global Density of Full Industrial Chain Support: A single modular building involves tens of thousands of components, and China can complete the support within the one-hour economic circles of the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta, while European and American enterprises need to procure components across borders, leading to difficulties in controlling costs and construction periods.
2. Domestic Prefabricated Building 'Training' Effect: Over the past decade, a vast number of domestic projects have accumulated mature production processes and cost-control experience, enabling Chinese enterprises to possess both efficiency and price advantages in international competition.