Nvidia Mandates Full Prepayment for H200 AI Chips in China Amid Regulatory Uncertainty
Nvidia has abruptly shifted its payment terms for Chinese buyers of its flagship H200 AI processors, now demanding full prepayment without cancellation options. The policy change reflects growing unease about Beijing's unpredictable export controls, which recently saw the Xi administration temporarily halt H200 orders.
The $27,000-per-unit chips remain in extraordinary demand, with Chinese tech firms placing 2 million orders against Nvidia's 700,000-unit inventory. Sources indicate the company may make exceptions for collateralized transactions, but standard deposits are now obsolete in the Chinese market.
Industry observers note the payment overhaul coincides with potential regulatory approval for the H200 this quarter. The stringent terms mirror escalating US-China tech tensions, where semiconductor exports have become geopolitical bargaining chips.
