Asahi Shifts Focus From Lcd To Solar

Demand for LCD panels is in decline, while solar power looks set to grow. Asahi Glass Co. is delaying the start of operations at LCD glass substrate plants while investing around JPY 3BN to install solar cell glass processing facilities at its factory in the Chinese city of Dalian in 2009. According to research firm Fuji Keizai Co., the global market for solar cell materials will more than double from approximately JPY 2 trillion in 2008 to around 4.2 trillion JPY by 2012. By contrast, the worldwide market for LCD panel materials, whose 2008 sales are estimated at about JPY 9 trillion, is forecast to remain relatively flat in 2010 and beyond.