- The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security is examining 47 Apex shipments from 2024 involving servers made by Super Micro Computer that contain Nvidia chips.
- Apex says it is cooperating with investigators and has enhanced its compliance procedures; two former employees allegedly used an export-control exemption code on the relevant consignments.
- The probe adds to a broader U.S. enforcement campaign targeting illicit shipments of advanced Nvidia AI servers to China, while Nvidia and Super Micro have not been accused of wrongdoing in the Apex case.
- Nvidia's strong results and guidance lifted Nasdaq sentiment, but proposed semiconductor tariffs and tighter export enforcement remain risks to U.S. AI infrastructure expansion.
Quotes
“a small number of shipments that Apex handled in 2024 and which may have involved materials and equipment which were ultimately forwarded to prohibited locations”
“has not been contacted by the authorities”