Corning has reported that its profit for the first quarter of 2010 soared to $816 million, based on surging sales of liquid crystal display (LCD) glass for flat panel televisions and computers, as well as highly durable cover glass for mobile phones and hand-held video devices.

The glassmaker said that it expects robust demand for LCD televisions, laptops and desktop computers, along with an improved retail outlook for such products, will boost the LCD glass industry volume in 2010.

Sales in Corning’s display technologies division more than doubled to $782 million in the January-March period, from $357 million in the same quarter of 2009. “We were essentially sold out,” said the company’s Chief Executive, Wendell Weeks.

US market research company DisplaySearch estimates that 181 million LCD televisions will be shipped worldwide in 2010 – a 24% increase over 2009.