Chinese AI projects cite $3.2 billion in restricted Nvidia chips

A Reuters review of more than 150 Chinese procurement notices, investment plans, contracts and corporate disclosures identified projects and equipment agreements worth more than 23 billion yuan, or about $3.2 billion, that reference U.S.-restricted Nvidia H100, H200 or H800 processors.

The records cover planned investments, awarded contracts and operating facilities across China. The reported total includes infrastructure such as buildings and power systems, not just Nvidia chips, and does not represent confirmed spending on or delivery of processors.

The review does not establish that restricted chips reached every project. It shows that buyers and project operators have specified the processors in plans and agreements despite U.S. export controls. Some facilities are operational or under construction, while other projects remain at earlier stages.

Among the examples detailed in the records, a 6.2 billion yuan project in Fujian calls for H100 processors. A 3 billion yuan project linked to state-owned Sinomach specifies H100 and H200 chips. In Gansu, a facility received a 1.16 billion yuan contract in July for 3,072 H100 and H200 processors, according to the review.