The company attributed the better-than-expected results to quick adoption of Gorilla Glass 5 and long-term commitments from optical customers. The Speciality Materials division, which includes Gorilla Glass, grew sales 22 percent year-on-year to USD 336 million, and Optical Communications revenue was up 11 percent to USD 819 million. The largest division, Display Technologies, grew sales 13 percent to USD 830 million, but organic growth was flat due continued moderate falls in LCD glass prices.

Corning said it expects the price declines to moderate further in 2017, while over glass demand should be up in the mid-single digit percentages. Optical revenues are expected to continue to grow in the low teens in 2017, with an increase of at least 25 percent in Q1. The rate of growth in Specialty Materials in 2017 is more difficult to predict due to the timing of customer adoption, but Corning expects sales up in the high teens in Q1. At group level, sales, net profit and EPS are all expected to be higher year-on-year in Q1.