Exclusive: Nvidia requires full upfront payment for H200 chips in China, sources say

vm_admin
Exclusive: Nvidia requires full upfront payment for H200 chips in China, sources say

By Reuters
Publication Date: 2026-01-08 06:04:00

  • US chipmaker hedging against uncertainty over Beijing’s approval of shipments-sources
  • China has asked tech companies to temporarily pause H200 orders-source
  • Regulators still deciding how many domestic chips firms need to buy alongside each H200-source
BEIJING/SHANGHAI, Jan 8 (Reuters) – Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab is requiring full upfront payment from Chinese customers seeking its H200 artificial intelligence chips, hedging it against ongoing uncertainty over Beijing’s approval of the shipments, said two people briefed on the matter.

The U.S. chipmaker has imposed unusually stringent terms requiring full payment for orders with no options to cancel, ask for refunds or change configurations after placement, the people said.

Sign up here.

In special circumstances, clients may provide commercial insurance or asset collateral as an alternative to cash payment, one of the people added.

Nvidia’s standard terms for Chinese clients have previously included advance payment requirements, but they were sometimes allowed to place a deposit rather than make a full payment upfront, the person said. But for the H200, the company has been particularly strict in enforcing conditions given the lack of clarity on whether Chinese regulators would greenlight the shipments, the person added.

Both people spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is not public. The stepped-up policy enforcement has not been reported previously. Nvidia and China’s industry ministry had yet to…

Related Posts