Nvidia plans to begin shipping its H200 AI chips to Chinese clients before the Lunar New Year in mid-February, Reuters reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
The shipments would mark the first deliveries of the second-most powerful AI chips to China, following a policy shift allowing sales with a 25% fee under the Trump administration.
Initial orders are expected to draw from existing stock, with 5,000 to 10,000 chip modules slated for delivery, equivalent to roughly 40,000 to 80,000 H200 chips, Reuters stated.
Nvidia has reportedly informed clients that new production capacity will be added, with orders for that capacity opening in the second quarter of 2026, one source said.
However, uncertainty remains. Beijing has yet to approve any H200 purchases, and the timeline could change depending on government decisions.
“The whole plan is contingent on government approval,” a source is said to have told Reuters.
The H200, part of Nvidia’s previous-generation Hopper line, continues to be widely used despite the newer Blackwell chips.
Supply remains limited, as Nvidia has focused production on Blackwell and its upcoming Rubin line.
Chinese companies such as Alibaba and ByteDance have expressed interest in acquiring H200 chips, which offer roughly six times the processing power of Nvidia’s downgraded H20 chip designed for the Chinese market.
