AMD expects to lose around US$1.5 billion in revenue this year because of new US export restrictions on advanced AI chips, which now require a licence to be sold to China.
The US government, under both the Biden and Trump administrations, has tightened curbs on chip exports in an effort to slow China’s progress in developing powerful AI systems, citing national security risks.
China makes up roughly a quarter of AMD’s total revenue, so these measures could reduce AMD’s expected annual earnings by almost 5 per cent.
Despite this setback, AMD posted stronger-than-expected second-quarter revenue guidance, forecasting around US$7.4 billion, likely driven by customers rushing to stockpile chips before the new rules fully take effect.
CEO Lisa Su said the impact from the curbs would be mostly felt during the second and third quarters, yet she still expects revenue from the company’s AI data centre chips to grow by strong double digits in 2024.
AMD’s finance chief Jean Hu clarified the projected US$1.5 billion revenue loss is tied directly to the latest export controls introduced in April.
Although AMD is under pressure, demand for its high-performance chips remains solid, with tech giants like Microsoft and Meta continuing to invest heavily in AI infrastructure.
The company’s data centre division saw sales jump 57 per cent to US$3.7 billion, helping push total revenue up 36 per cent to US$7.44 billion—both figures exceeding analyst expectations. Adjusted earnings stood at 96 cents per share, slightly above estimates.
Rival chipmaker Nvidia has also warned it now requires a licence to export to China and faces an even larger US$5.5 billion hit.
Meanwhile, other tech firms didn’t fare as well—Marvell Technology and Super Micro disappointed investors, with shares falling after they issued weaker outlooks, adding further signs of turbulence in the chip sector.
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