China will finally receive Nvidia's H200 chips, but there is a catch

China will finally receive Nvidia H200 chips, but there is a caveat

The US administration has allowed Nvidia to resume limited shipments of H200 computing accelerators to China. Deliveries will be strictly controlled: Chinese customers will be able to receive no more than 50% of the volume available to US customers, and only after US needs have been met. Each accelerator must be tested in an independent laboratory, and recipients are required to guarantee that the technology will not be used for military purposes.

Demand in China is estimated at more than 2 million units, with Nvidia's current inventory at around 700,000. Chinese authorities plan to allow purchases of H200 only for specific tasks, such as scientific research, and will consult with potential buyers.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang noted high global demand and rising rental rates for existing accelerators.