Prefabricated Housing Area

Prefabricated housing is a form of construction that involves the industrial production of building components and their assembly on-site. Modular construction represents a more integrated version of this approach, and China's prefabricated housing technology is mature and in high demand overseas.

Definition and Types of Prefabricated Housing

Prefabricated housing, also known as prefabricated modular construction, refers to the production of building components such as beams, slabs, walls, and columns through industrial processes, followed by on-site assembly. Its main types include panel-based, box-based, and frame-based assembly. The technology encompasses prefabricated concrete structures and steel structures, offering significant advantages such as shortened construction periods and reduced pollution.

Characteristics of Modular Construction

Modular construction is a more integrated form of prefabricated modular construction. It involves breaking down a building into individual modules, which are manufactured in a factory, including ceilings, floors, and plumbing and electrical systems, all prefabricated before being transported to the construction site for assembly. Compared to traditional construction methods, modular construction offers advantages such as shorter construction periods, controllable quality, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and ease of maintenance. However, this model places extremely high demands on the industrial base, requiring support from technological systems, production systems, and industrial clusters.

Development History of China's Prefabricated Housing Technology

China's prefabricated concrete technology began in the 1950s and was initially applied to factory and residential construction. In the 1970s, driven by the policy of promoting the “three modernizations” in construction, technical systems such as large-panel structures and box structures were formed. By the mid-1980s, the industry stagnated due to cost and quality issues. In the 21st century, it experienced a resurgence due to its production efficiency and environmental advantages. Companies like Vanke Group developed prefabricated shear wall residential structural systems and applied prefabricated frame technology in projects, such as the Nanjing Jindi Yufang project, which adopted a prestressed prefabricated concrete assembled integral frame structural system.

Overseas Sales of China's Prefabricated Housing

Chinese-made prefabricated housing is in high demand overseas. According to customs data, in the first four months of 2026, the Guangzhou Customs District exported 1.4 billion yuan worth of mobile homes, a year-on-year increase of 38.1%. In the first half of 2026, China's total exports of prefabricated buildings reached 2.79 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 45%, with the Shenzhen port alone exporting 2.45 billion yuan worth of mobile homes. In Australia, the cost of modular housing imported from China is about 30% lower than locally constructed housing. In the Philippines, Chinese “prefabricated houses” enabled developers to build a 12-story fully furnished apartment building in just nine days. The developer of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, also invited Chinese companies to build a 50-meter-high residential building in the UAE, with a project value of 125 million yuan.