Nvidia Plans H20 Chip Exports to China After U.S. Approval

Nvidia has informed its Chinese customers that the availability of its H20 chips is currently constrained. The company announced this week that it plans to restart exports of the H20 chips to China, pending the necessary approvals from U.S. authorities. This decision comes after an April ban by U.S. authorities on H20 shipments, which compelled Nvidia to cancel orders and forfeit its reserved production slots at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC).

At a recent event in Beijing, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang explained that TSMC had reallocated the assembly lines to different products, and re-establishing them could take up to nine months. Huang also noted that once the export licenses for Chinese orders are granted, Nvidia is prepared to swiftly process these licenses and increase its chip deliveries. China’s commerce ministry has indicated that the U.S. is considering approving exports of H20 chips to Chinese buyers, but Huang emphasized that shipments still depend on final license clearances.

In addition to the H20 chip, Nvidia is also designing a new graphics card for the Chinese market called the RTX Pro GPU. This new product is designed to meet U.S. export regulations and targets automated manufacturing operations and robotics training. Huang also highlighted the strong demand for Nvidia's products in China, noting that the company is committed to supplying dependable, top-tier offerings to Chinese consumers.

Huang's recent trip to China included meetings with key government officials, including Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Vice Premier He Lifeng. These meetings underscored China's commitment to attracting foreign investment and expanding market access. Huang also praised AI models from leading Chinese companies, noting their world-class capabilities and the transformative impact of AI on supply chains.