[News] Intel 18A Yields Up 7%–8% Monthly as 2H26 Customers Expected; Said to Push 18A CPUs Amid Shortages

Intel’s turnaround appears to be gaining momentum. According to CNBC, Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan said the company’s foundry business is making progress, with 18A process yields now improving by 7% to 8% per month, signaling advancement from earlier challenges.

More significantly, Tan said the improvements are beginning to attract customer interest, with Intel expecting commitments from multiple foundry customers in the second half of 2026, the report highlights. The remarks align with earlier comments from CFO David Zinsner, who said signals from external foundry customers would become “more concrete” in the second half of the year and into early 2027.

Intel Reportedly Pushes 18A CPUs Amid Supply Tightness

Recent CPU shortages have also brought renewed attention to Intel, which is reportedly promoting processors built on its 18A technology. According to Nikkei, sources say Intel is encouraging key PC partners across the U.S., China, and Taiwan to increase adoption of CPUs produced using the process, which only became available late last year.

Sources add that the company has prioritized supply of chips based on its older Intel 7 process for server and industrial applications. Intel’s push to promote its most advanced chips comes as it seeks to capitalize on the AI race and regain leadership in advanced chipmaking, the report adds.

14A Seen as Intel’s Next Push Against TSMC

Beyond 18A, according to CNBC, Tan said Intel’s next-generation 14A process could eventually compete with TSMC, adding that it is expected to arrive around the same time as TSMC’s comparable technology — a development he described as a “major, major breakthrough.” As noted by Wccftech, Tan said Intel expects risk production for its 14A technology in 2028, followed by volume production in 2029, placing its timeline alongside TSMC’s. He added that multiple customers are already engaging with Intel as the company has made its 0.5 PDK available.

EMIB Shows Early Customer Commitment as Substrate Prepayments Emerge

Another major technology highlighted by Lip-Bu Tan is EMIB, which he described as one of the most advanced chip packaging technologies. According to Wccftech, Tan said customer commitment has become evident, with some customers even prepaying for substrates to secure supply amid ongoing shortages.

Wccftech notes that EMIB was recently said to have reached 90% yields. By contrast, Commercial Times notes that TSMC’s CoWoS currently mass-produced 5.5-reticle-size version — the world’s largest today — has already achieved yields of 98%.

Read more

• [News] First Intel Wildcat Lake Laptops Near Launch; Reportedly Built on 18A, Taking Aim at Apple’s MacBook Neo
• [News] Apple Reportedly Keeps 2nm 5G Modem Orders with TSMC Amid Intel Cooperation Signals

(Photo credit: Lip-Bu Tan on X)