US Probes Apex Logistics Over Nvidia AI Chip Smuggling

US Export Restrictions on Nvidia Chips and Singapore Black Market Probes

Federal investigators are examining whether Apex Logistics transported systems made by Super Micro Computer Inc. in violation of US export restrictions, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to speak about an ongoing legal matter. Nvidia chips are the industrial standard for training and running AI models, and firms like Super Micro assemble them into servers that are installed in data centers. Washington restricted sales of this class of hardware to China in 2022 due to concerns that advanced AI chips could benefit Beijing’s military efforts. But the rules haven’t entirely stopped firms there from acquiring the coveted components, spawning a sophisticated shadow trade that the US government in legal cases alleges has gotten billions of dollars’ worth of Nvidia chips to the world’s second-largest economy. Asian governments have begun to investigate this black market too, including in Apex’s headquarters location of Singapore, which has said it will not tolerate those who use the city-state to circumvent the export controls of other countries.

Apex Logistics Statement on US Investigation and Compliance

Apex is aware of Washington’s concern for and interest in 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, the company said in a statement. The firm is cooperating fully with the US investigation and is committed to complete compliance with all relevant regulations, according to the statement.

Nvidia Worker Among 9 Charged in Taiwan Chip Smuggling Case

Kuehne+Nagel and Bureau of Industry and Security Probe Details

Apex’s Swiss parent company, Kuehne+Nagel, confirmed that its subsidiary is cooperating with Washington’s probe, while adding that Kuehne+Nagel itself has not been contacted by the authorities. It’s unclear how many Nvidia chips the US government suspects Apex may have helped divert to China, and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, which is spearheading the probe, didn’t respond to a request for comment. This number matters for understanding the national security stakes: 100 servers, for example, could barely fill a corner of a data center, while multiple thousands could meaningfully boost China’s resources in a foundational part of the AI competition.

Super Micro declined to comment on Apex Logistics’ alleged shipments of its hardware. San Jose, California-based Super Micro doesn’t have a direct business relationship with Apex, people familiar with the matter said. Rather, Apex handles shipments on behalf of customers that purchase servers, not the server makers themselves, one of the people said. The person added that Apex has introduced enhanced compliance procedures since the US investigation began during President Joe Biden’s administration.

Nvidia and Jensen Huang Statements on Export Control Rules

An Nvidia spokesperson said that we sell our products to well-known partners, which work with us to ensure that all sales comply with US export control rules. Our due diligence has helped identify suspected attempts to circumvent US export controls, leading to federal prosecutions. For a while, though, Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang had insisted that the issue didn’t exist. There's no evidence of any AI chip diversion, he said in May 2025. The Grace Blackwell system is nearly two tons, and so you're not going to be putting that in your pocket or your backpack anytime soon.