China cities push for AI chip self-sufficiency to cut Nvidia reliance - report

Published 21/08/2025, 05:44
Updated 21/08/2025, 07:10
© Reuters

Investing.com-- Major Chinese municipalities are setting targets to achieve at least 70% self-sufficiency in artificial intelligence semiconductors by 2027, aiming to reduce reliance on U.S. leader Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), the Nikkei reported on Thursday, citing a Shanxi Securities note.

Shanghai has outlined a plan for domestic control over 70% of chips used in data centres, while Beijing has set a more ambitious goal of 100% by 2027, the report said.

Guiyang, home to several large-scale data centres including one used by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), has called for about 90% of chips in new facilities to be Chinese-made, it added.

The push echoes President Xi Jinping’s call in April for China to achieve “self-reliance and strength” in AI chips.

Nvidia held around 80% of China’s AI chip market in early 2024, but Shanxi Securities projects that share could fall to 50-60% within five years as Huawei, Cambricon (SS:688256) and Baidu ’s (HK:9888) Kunlun unit expand production.

Huawei’s Ascend 910B currently delivers about 85% of the power of Nvidia’s H20, while its next-generation 920 chip is expected to rival U.S. products, the Nikkei report said.

The move comes after the U.S. allowed Nvidia to resume its China-specific H20 AI chips, but Beijing has reportedly urged domestic firms to avoid using them. 

Beijing had expressed concerns over "backdoor" controls and security lapses in U.S.-made chips, claims that Nvidia has denied.

A Financial Times report on Thursday showed that China’s move to restrict sales of Nvidia’s H20 chip was prompted by remarks from U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that Beijing found “insulting."

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.