Nvidia to demand full upfront payment for H200 GPUs from China customers, report claims — more than two million chips may have been ordered despite uncertain Beijing stance

Nvidia is now requiring full upfront payment from Chinese customers for its H200 GPUs for AI applications due to uncertainties surrounding import approvals in China. Customers cannot cancel orders even if the government restricts imports. While it is anticipated that H200 imports will be approved in early 2026, restrictions are expected for certain sectors. Despite the strict terms, demand for H200 remains high in China, with over two million units ordered. Nvidia plans to fulfill initial orders from existing stock, but additional units may not be available until Q2 at the earliest.