Intel's management revealed during the company's Q3 2025 earnings call that while its 18A fabrication process is progressing predictably, with usable yields, enabling the company to begin ramping production of the Core Ultra 300-series processors, codenamed Panther Lake. However, the ramp-up of 18A processors will be slow due to relatively low yields, and Intel will not expand available 18A capacity at a rapid pace. Currently, 18A's yields are not yet comfortable from a commercial point of view.
"We are making steady progress on Intel 18A, we are on track to bring Panther Lake to market this year," said Lip-Bu Tan, chief executive of Intel. "18A yields are progressing at a predictable rate, and Fab 52 in Arizona, which is dedicated to high-volume manufacturing, is now fully operational."
