LCD manufacturer Corning has suggested that the global LCD market will begin to slow during 2006, although believes there will still be strong demand for the screens.

The company has claimed that the demand for glass used in flat screen panels will drop compared to the massive growth in 2005.

However, chief financial officer James Flaws, told Reuters that he still anticipates the LCD market demand to grow by 40 per cent over the coming 12 months.

That remains down on the 60 per cent increase in demand seen in 2005, as interest in flat screen televisions soared due to the falling cost.

As Mr Flaws pointed out: "40 per cent is nothing to sneeze at."

Towards the end of 2005, some analysts warned that there could be a slump in the LCD market in 2006 because so many producers were looking to increase output levels, which could have resulted in a glut in the market.

But despite Corning's prediction of a slowing in the market, most companies still believe that there will be enough growth in demand to ensure that their expansion programmes remain necessary to keep up with that demand.


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