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Intel to unveil Panther Lake chip details, its first built entirely on 18A process

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Intel plans to reveal the technical architecture of its upcoming laptop chip, Panther Lake, on Thursday, according to sources cited by Reuters. The disclosure aims to reassure investors about Intel’s progress on its long-awaited 18A manufacturing process, the company’s next-generation technology platform developed after years of costly setbacks.

The Panther Lake chips will serve as Intel’s high-end mobile processors, featured in premium laptops. They are the first large-scale products built entirely using 18A — a key milestone as Intel seeks to reclaim market share lost to AMD and TSMC. The chipmaker conducted in-depth technical briefings and factory tours last week in Arizona, showcasing the redesigned architecture, including the AI engine, graphics cores, and media processing unit optimized for 18A.

According to those briefed, Panther Lake offers 30% better energy efficiency and up to 50% greater data processing power compared to its predecessor, Lunar Lake — a chip largely produced by TSMC. Intel executives said the new processors are expected to debut in early 2026.

The Arizona event underscored how vital Panther Lake is to Intel’s turnaround. The company reported a $2.9 billion loss in the second quarter and warned that future investments in its 14A process depend on finding new customers. Following political and financial turbulence — including President Trump’s call for CEO Lip-Bu Tan’s resignation and subsequent investments from SoftBank and Nvidia — Intel is under pressure to deliver results.

The Fab 52 facility in Arizona, built under former CEO Pat Gelsinger’s global expansion strategy, now houses the 18A process, featuring a new transistor design and more efficient power delivery. Intel did not disclose yield rates for Panther Lake, though previous reports indicate the success rate has improved from 5% to about 10% this year.

Applied Materials Cuts Forecast Amid China Slowdown and Export-Restrictions

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Applied Materials (AMAT.O) forecasted fourth-quarter revenue and profit below analyst expectations on Thursday, citing weak demand in China and uneven orders from customers impacted by tariff uncertainty. Shares fell nearly 13% in after-hours trading.

The ongoing U.S.-China trade tensions and export restrictions on advanced semiconductor equipment have complicated forecasting, weighing on orders for chipmaking tools suppliers like Applied Materials. China accounted for 35% of Applied’s total sales in the July quarter, making it a critical market.

CFO Brice Hill said the company expects a revenue decline in the fourth quarter due to both the absorption of recently added capacity in China and non-linear demand from leading-edge customers. Tightened export controls prevent sales of the most advanced chipmaking equipment to Chinese clients. Meanwhile, Chinese chipmakers are pausing new orders for older-generation chips used in automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.

Applied projected fourth-quarter revenue of $6.70 billion, plus or minus $500 million, below the $7.33 billion analysts had anticipated. Adjusted profit per share is expected at $2.11, compared with estimates of $2.39. The forecast assumes no approvals for pending U.S. export license applications.

The company’s third-quarter results exceeded expectations, with revenue up 8% to $7.30 billion and adjusted earnings per share at $2.48, above analyst estimates of $2.36.

China’s SMIC Reports Resilience Despite U.S. Tariffs, Expects Tight Capacity Through October

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China’s leading semiconductor foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), stated on Friday that U.S. tariff measures have not caused the “hard landing” initially feared. The company cited strong domestic demand that will keep its production capacity tight until October.

Co-CEO Zhao Haijun said during a post-earnings call that customers have largely mitigated the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff plans—such as the proposed 100% tariff on chip imports—through inventory stockpiling and sourcing from alternative suppliers. He noted that previous tariff rounds increased costs by less than 10% for overseas customers.

China’s additional tariffs on U.S. goods reached 125% in April, following Trump’s tariffs effectively pushing the rate on Chinese goods to 145%. However, the latest semiconductor tariffs exclude companies manufacturing in the U.S. or committed to doing so. SMIC, blacklisted by the U.S. in 2020, has no U.S.-based manufacturing.

SMIC’s revenue for Q2 grew 16.2% year-on-year to $2.2 billion, though its profit declined 19.5% to $132.5 million, missing analyst expectations. The company shipped 2.4 million eight-inch equivalent wafers in the quarter, a 4.3% increase from Q1.

Capacity utilization rose to 92.5%, and monthly production capacity expanded modestly by 1.85% quarter-on-quarter to 991,000 wafers. Zhao forecasted continued tight capacity driven by strong domestic demand, especially for analog, WiFi, Ethernet, and memory controller chips.

SMIC expects Q3 revenue growth of 5% to 7% over Q2 but anticipates the industry’s typical seasonal slowdown in Q4, with rush orders and early shipments likely to taper.

SMIC’s shares in Hong Kong dropped over 5% following the report.