Corning Incorporated expects global demand for liquid crystal display (LCD) glass to grow by 25 to 30 per cent during 2008.

Peter Volanakis, Chief Operating Officer, spoke at the company's annual investor meeting in New York and said the year is expected to be one of "process improvement, cost reduction and excellent gross margins".

The LCD TV sector has become the fastest-growing category of global glass demand according to Mr Volanakis who estimates that 105 million LCD TVs will be shipped in 2008.

He also expects glass demand to reach nearly 1.5 billion square feet during 2009 as the average size of a screen increases from 31.4 inches to about 34.2 inches by 2009.

"Most significantly, LCD is leading in larger screen sizes. We expect 86 per cent of the 40-to-49-inch TV segment and almost half of the 50-inch-and-larger segment to be LCD by 2009," he explained.

Corning has recently announced plans to develop Gen 10 glass which will be the largest LCD glass substrate available measuring 2,850mm x 3,050mm.

Growth of smaller devices with LCD screens is also expected with a compound annual growth rate of 16 per cent from 2007 to 2009 expected, Business Wire reports.

Source:

Corning Provides LCD Glass Market Growth Expectations, 08/02/08

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