Qingyu waterproof backing board is exported to the Middle East: technological empowerment and cultural adaptation drive a new paradigm of Chinese building materials overseas

　　At the container terminal of Jeddah Port in Saudi Arabia, a cargo ship loaded with herring waterproof backing boards is slowly docking. This batch of plates marked "Made in China" will be shipped directly to the construction site of NEOM New City in Saudi Arabia and will be used to build the underground pipe gallery system of the world's first "zero-carbon desert community". This is not only the first time that the Qingyu brand has entered the Middle East market on a large scale, but also marks that China's new building materials have achieved a leap from product output to system solutions in response to the dual challenges of extreme climate and cultural differences.

　　Technology Breakthrough: Triple Protection System Targets Pain Points in the Middle East

　　The average annual precipitation in the Middle East is less than 200 millimeters, but the groundwater level continues to rise due to seawater intrusion, making traditional building materials prone to cracking in an alternating dry and wet environment. The Qingyu R&D team spent three years overcoming technical difficulties and built a three-dimensional protection system of "physical barrier + respiratory regulation + structural enhancement":

　　Nanoscale closed-cell structure: Using the German KraussMaffei extrusion production line, the closed-cell rate of the XPS substrate is increased to 99.7%, and the liquid water permeability coefficient is lower than 1×10⁻¹² m/s, far exceeding the ASTM E96 standard requirements. In a simulation test in a Dubai laboratory, the board was exposed to a high temperature of 40°C and a humidity of 95% for 180 days and still maintained a water absorption rate of 0.02%.

　　Intelligent breathing membrane technology: Micron-level breathable channels are implanted on the surface of the board, and combined with a patented glue layer to form a one-way moisture conduction system. When the water vapor pressure of the concrete base exceeds 0.5kPa, the water vapor can be discharged through the board, but liquid water cannot reversely penetrate. This technology successfully solved the long-standing condensation problem on the underground platforms of the Riyadh Metro project in Saudi Arabia.

　　High-strength fiber reinforced layer: embedded with polypropylene fiber mesh provided by BASF, Germany, the impact strength of the board reaches 8.5kJ/m², which can withstand direct crushing by a 2-ton forklift. During the construction of Qatar World Cup venues, the material successfully withstood the impact of sandstorms common in desert areas.

　　Cultural fit: deep localization from payment terms to construction practices

　　Facing the unique business ecology of the Middle East market, the Qingyu team creatively constructed a three-dimensional adaptation model of "finance + technology + services":

　　Innovation in payment plan: In view of the "prepayment + letter of credit" model commonly used by Middle Eastern merchants, Qingyu cooperated with Sinosure to launch a "stepped guarantee" plan: after paying 30% of the advance payment for the first order, a demand guarantee covering 70% of the payment will be issued; after the customer completes the construction acceptance of the first batch of 1,000 square meters, the remaining 30% of the payment will be released. This arrangement not only protects the company's cash flow, but also eliminates customers' concerns about quality.

　　Construction standard docking: Establish a localization team led by engineers certified by the Saudi Authority for Building Regulations (SABIC) to compare the Chinese GB/T 23450 standard with the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) specifications one by one. In view of the characteristics of workers in the Middle East who are accustomed to using hand tools, pre-scored plates have been specially developed. Complex shape cutting can be completed with a utility knife, and the construction efficiency is increased by 40%.

　　Avoidance of religious taboos: bilingual logos in Arabic and English are used on product packaging to avoid the use of any animal images; local Saudi engineers are invited to appear in the construction guide video, and Islamic hand-washing etiquette is strictly followed during the demonstration; and a worship room is even set up in the temporary office on the construction site. These details have won high recognition from local partners.

　　Ecological win-win: green building materials support sustainable development in the Middle East

　　Under the framework of the UAE's "2050 Clean Energy Strategy", herring products have demonstrated significant environmental benefits:

　　Carbon emission reduction advantages: For every 10,000 square meters of herring backing board used, 12 tons of concrete can be reduced, which is equivalent to saving 28 tons of standard coal. In the Al Dhafra photovoltaic power station project in Abu Dhabi, the application of this material reduced carbon emissions by 37% during the infrastructure construction phase.

　　Circular economy practice: Cooperating with Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC to establish a recycling system. After crushing, waste sheets can be used as filler to re-enter the polystyrene production chain, forming a closed-loop economy. At present, the first XPS recycling plant in the Middle East has been built in Yanbu Industrial City, with an annual processing capacity of 5,000 tons.

　　Localized production: Based on Oriental Yuhong’s successful experience in Saudi Arabia, Qingyu is negotiating with local companies to build a joint venture factory. It plans to introduce a "one-step" polyester spunbond needle punching process to reduce energy consumption per unit of production by 30%, and at the same time train 300 Saudi technical workers.

　　Market Reaction: From Pilot Project to Strategic Partner

　　Since entering the Middle East market in the third quarter of 2025, Qingyu has won a number of landmark projects:

　　In the underground pipe corridor project of NEOM New City in Saudi Arabia, the traditional cement pressure plate was replaced, shortening the construction period by 60 days;

　　Provided 120,000 square meters of moisture-proof solutions for Lusail New City in Qatar, and passed the American UL mildew level 1 certification;

　　Signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Emaar Real Estate Group in the United Arab Emirates and became the designated supplier of its high-end residential projects.

　　According to statistics from Data Bridge, a Saudi construction market research organization, the share of herring backing boards in the high-end waterproof materials market in the Middle East has jumped from 2.3% in Q3 of 2025 to 8.7% in Q1 of 2026, and the customer repurchase rate is as high as 91%. As Ahmed Al-Jaber, Purchasing Director of SABIC Group in Saudi Arabia, said: "Chinese building materials are no longer just about price advantages. Qingyu has redefined industry standards with technological innovation."

　　In this land that carries ancient civilization and modern dreams, herring waterproof backing board is writing a new chapter in the transformation from Made in China to Created in China. From technological breakthroughs to deal with extreme climate, to business wisdom that respects cultural differences, to ecological responsibility to promote sustainable development, Chinese building materials companies are using all-round innovation to inject new connotations into the "Belt and Road" construction.