Nvidia’s Huang to visit China as AI chip sales stall

BEIJING — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang plans to visit China in the coming days ahead of the mid-February Lunar New Year, two people familiar with the matter told CNBC.

The trip comes as questions persist over the U.S. chip giant’s ability to sell in the Chinese market, which once accounted for at least one-fifth of revenue from Nvidia’s data center business.

U.S. export restrictions have prevented Nvidia from selling its most advanced chips to China as Washington seeks to maintain an edge over Beijing in chips used to develop cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

Huang is expected to attend an Nvidia company party in Beijing on Monday, said one of the sources, who requested anonymity to speak about the trip.

He is also set to meet with potential buyers in China and discuss recent logistical challenges in supplying U.S.-approved Nvidia chips into the market, according to a person with direct knowledge of the travel plans.

The Information reported last week, citing sources, that China would only approve local purchases of Nvidia’s H200 AI chips for limited purposes such as research. When asked about the report Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry claimed it was unaware of the situation.

Bloomberg first reported news of Huang’s China trip earlier this week. Nvidia declined to comment on executive travel plans.

Huang visited mainland China at least three times last year, including in January for Lunar New Year celebrations.