Nvidia seems to be making big moves in China. Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Nvidia has told Chinese clients it aims to start shipping its second-most powerful AI chips to China before the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-February.
The U.S. chipmaker plans to fulfil initial orders from existing stock, with shipments expected to total 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules — equivalent to about 40,000 to 80,000 H200 AI chips, the first and second sources said.
“The whole plan is contingent on government approval,” the third source said. “Nothing is certain until we get the official go-ahead.”
READ: US eases curbs, will allow certain Nvidia H200 chip segments into China (
Nvidia has also told Chinese clients that it plans to add new production capacity for the chips, with orders for that capacity opening in the second quarter of 2026, the third source said.
Nvidia is preparing to resume shipments of its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China by mid‑February 2026, just ahead of the Lunar New Year. The company has reportedly informed Chinese clients that it will fulfill initial orders from existing inventory, involving 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules — equivalent to about 40,000 to 80,000 H200 GPUs. Nvidia plans to expand production capacity, with new orders for that capacity expected to open in the second quarter of 2026.
This development follows a major shift in U.S. export policy. In December, the U.S. government allowed Nvidia to export H200 chips to China under certain conditions, reversing earlier restrictions that had effectively barred such sales due to national security concerns. The H200, part of Nvidia’s previous-generation Hopper line, remains widely used for advanced AI workloads even as newer Blackwell and Rubin chips have entered the market.
For Chinese technology giants such as Alibaba Group and ByteDance, which have expressed interest in buying H200 chips, the potential shipments would provide access to processors roughly six times more powerful than the H20, a downgraded chip Nvidia designed for China.
The renewed movement of high-performance AI chips into China highlights the broader dynamics of global technology, trade, and innovation. It underscores how advanced computing capabilities are increasingly central to economic competitiveness and technological leadership, prompting close attention from governments, companies, and markets worldwide.
Beyond individual transactions, this development seemingly reflects broader trends in AI deployment, cloud infrastructure, and the global semiconductor industry. At the same time, it raises questions about how access to cutting-edge technology may shape competitive advantages, research capabilities, and industrial strategy in major economies.
The planned shipments would mark the first deliveries of H200 chips to China after President Donald Trump said this month that Washington would allow such sales with a 25% fee.
As international demand for high-performance computing grows, supply chain bottlenecks, geopolitical tensions, and policy shifts may continue to create unpredictability in the availability and distribution of cutting-edge chips. Stakeholders, from corporations to regulators, will need to carefully balance innovation, economic growth, and security considerations, all while navigating variables that are still in flux.