Nvidia is restarting its artificial intelligence chip business in China after securing approvals and receiving fresh orders from customers.
Key Takeaways
- Nvidia has received purchase orders from Chinese customers for its H200 AI chips and is restarting production.
- Regulatory approvals from both the US and China have cleared a path for resumed sales.
- A 25% revenue share with the US government may impact profitability of these deals.
- China could become a major growth driver again, with market potential estimated in tens of billions.
What Happened?
Nvidia has begun taking concrete steps to resume its AI chip sales in China after months of uncertainty caused by export controls and regulatory hurdles. CEO Jensen Huang confirmed that the company has received orders and is ramping up manufacturing.
The development marks a shift from earlier statements when Nvidia had indicated it was not generating any revenue from China and was unsure about future imports.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the company is firing up manufacturing of H200 AI accelerators for customers in China, a sign of progress in the chipmaker’s effort to reenter the vital market https://t.co/aRka6sD6jY
— Bloomberg (@business) March 17, 2026
Nvidia Secures Orders and Restarts Production
At the company’s recent GPU Technology Conference, CEO Jensen Huang confirmed that Nvidia has received multiple purchase orders from Chinese customers. He stated:
This is the first clear signal that Nvidia’s China business is coming back after a prolonged pause. Earlier, the company had said it was effectively out of the Chinese market due to restrictions.
Regulatory Breakthrough Opens the Door
The return follows approvals from both US and Chinese regulators, which had previously stalled progress. While the US had issued export licenses earlier this year, China had delayed import clearances.
Recent developments suggest that licenses have now been granted to multiple Chinese buyers, allowing shipments to move forward. However, these approvals come with strict conditions:
- Sales are limited to specific customers
- Shipments are capped
- Transactions require third party verification
- The US government will take a 25% share of proceeds
This arrangement reflects a compromise between national security concerns and commercial interests.
H200 Chip Leads the Comeback Strategy
The H200 AI chip, Nvidia’s second most powerful processor, is at the center of this renewed push. While its most advanced Blackwell chips remain restricted, the H200 offers a viable alternative for Chinese customers.
Earlier attempts to sell a lower capability H20 chip had struggled after China encouraged domestic alternatives. Despite this, Chinese demand for Nvidia’s technology has remained strong, as local options have not fully matched its performance.
Reports also suggest that major Chinese firms such as ByteDance, Tencent, Alibaba, and DeepSeek have received preliminary approvals to import these chips.
Revenue Opportunity and Market Potential
Before restrictions, China accounted for about 13% of Nvidia’s total revenue and a significant portion of its data center business. In its recent outlook, Nvidia had assumed zero revenue from China, meaning any new sales could provide upside.
Estimates suggest Nvidia generated between $12 billion and $15 billion from China in 2024, with the broader market opportunity potentially reaching $50 billion.
Analysts already expect strong growth, with projections of $368 billion in revenue over the next year, and renewed China sales could push those numbers even higher.
Challenges Around Tariffs and Workarounds
Despite the positive momentum, challenges remain. The 25% revenue share with the US government could significantly reduce margins, raising questions about the true profitability of these deals.
There have also been concerns about indirect access to Nvidia chips, with reports indicating that some Chinese firms obtained hardware through intermediaries in regions such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
New Chip Developments for China
Nvidia is also working on modified AI chips tailored for the Chinese market, including versions designed for inference tasks. These efforts aim to comply with regulations while maintaining competitiveness.
The company recently introduced its latest AI chip focused on inference, signaling its intent to stay ahead as competitors develop specialized alternatives.
CoinLaw’s Takeaway
In my experience, this feels like a carefully negotiated comeback rather than a full reopening. Nvidia is back in China, but under tight control and with clear trade offs.
I found the 25% revenue cut particularly significant, as it could reshape how profitable this market really is for Nvidia. Still, the demand from China is too large to ignore, and even limited access could translate into billions.
If Nvidia can balance regulation with innovation, this comeback could become one of the most important growth stories in the AI industry.
