Nvidia's Latest AI Chip 'Blackwell' Distributed from China... Resold in Third Countries

WSJ: "Nvidia Blackwell-equipped Products Being Traded in China"
"U.S. Sanctions Loopholes... H200 and Others Also on Sale"

Despite U.S. export controls, foreign media reports have emerged that products equipped with Nvidia's latest artificial intelligence (AI) chip, Blackwell, are being traded in China.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 2nd (local time) that Chinese sellers are selling servers containing Nvidia Blackwell chips, with some merchants promoting delivery within six weeks. It is known that they sell products by shipping through third-party companies located in neighboring countries.

NVIDIA Blackwell Platform.

According to WSJ, this is an example showing that Nvidia's advanced AI chips continue to be traded in China despite U.S. sanctions. It also predicted that the Trump administration would face difficulties in preventing the inflow of advanced U.S. technology into China.

A seller in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, told WSJ that they received an order from a customer in Shanghai in January to purchase more than 10 Blackwell servers and plan to deliver them by mid-month.

These sellers reportedly purchase servers from data center operators or Nvidia’s official customers located in Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and other places by using companies registered outside mainland China. Nvidia customers purchase servers for their own needs and then resell some of them to China.

Nvidia began shipping Blackwell-related products in December last year. The selling price of Blackwell servers equipped with eight AI processors in China is known to be over $600,000 (approximately 870 million KRW).

Other Nvidia chips subject to U.S. export controls, including the H200, are also reportedly circulating in China. According to WSJ, the selling price of servers containing eight H200 chips in China is $250,000 (approximately 360 million KRW), slightly higher than the price sold in other countries. Sellers indicate that about 10 units are available for immediate delivery and more than 100 units can be delivered within a month.

Nvidia stated that it is investigating the matter and will take appropriate measures.