Nvidia's Banned AI Chips Price Doubles on China's Black Market
NVDA•Prices for Nvidia's export-banned AI chips have surged 100% on China's black market following tightening of US export controls. Resellers cite persistent demand among domestic cloud providers and AI developers as driving scarcity and fueling a parallel trading channel.
1. Export Controls Trigger Price Surge
US tightened export restrictions on advanced AI chips including Nvidia's top models in April 2026, effectively banning shipments to Chinese data centers. This has created a shortage in official channels and driven parallel trading, pushing black market prices for these chips up by roughly 100%.
2. Demand from Domestic Users
Chinese cloud providers and AI startups seeking high-end graphics processing units have turned to unofficial resellers, paying premiums on the black market to secure limited supply. Traders report monthly volumes of banned chips rising despite the risk of confiscation or regulatory penalties.
3. Implications for Nvidia and Market
The black market price surge underscores Nvidia's dominant role in global AI infrastructure and suggests demand outpaces official export frameworks. Sustained parallel trading could pressure Nvidia's authorized sales channels while supporting elevated valuations for existing inventory.
