Much of Corning's success in the decades ahead depends on how well the company penetrates the massive Chinese market. Recent reports suggest that the company is checking out locations in China for a new plant to make glass for liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Currently, China is not a big producer or consumer of the computer monitors and televisions that use the displays, but with its population of 1.3BN and its rapid economic growth, it soon will be. The global centre of the LCD business is currently in Taiwan, where Corning Inc has invested more than $1.5BN since 2003 to build factories near its customers. A similar investment is likely in China if Corning can successfully navigate the peculiarities of the Chinese market, the greatest of which is the unpredictability of the Chinese government.
