SCOTTSDALE, AZ – IC Insights Inc. has slashed its 2008 semiconductor revenue forecast by $6 billion, according to published reports.

The market research firm now expects the industry to grow 4% to $244.3 billion this year. In June, the firm predicted 2008 growth of 7% to $250.3 billion.

However, the firm said long-term trends would sustain pricing stability, resulting in a CAGR of 10.6% between 2007 and 2012.

This change is attributed to the inventory correction of the logic market and the pricing collapse of the NAND flash market.

Overall, IC unit growth is set to increase 8%, with average selling prices down 4% this year.

Long term, trends supporting reduced capital spending will help increase fab utilization rates, stabilizing chip ASPs, the firm says. Overall chip ASPs decreased 5% last year and 8% in 2006.

Overall, capital spending will decrease 18% this year as a result of leading chipmakers easing up on expansion, according to IC Insights.

Capital spending as a percentage of semiconductor sales will be roughly 17.5%, the lowest in five years. During the past four years, it has been between 20 to 22%, and historically has been 20 to 30% since 1995, says the firm.

For 2009, IC Insights expects semiconductor capital spending to be likely in the 8 to 10% range.

The revised forecast calls for the memory market to decrease 10% year-over-year, with the DRAM segment down 10%.

The firm now expects the logic market to increase 13% in 2008 after previously forecasting 16% growth.

The substances are compiled in the SIN (Substitute It Now) list, introduced in Brussels today.

NGOs believe these 300 chemical substances should be considered candidates for Substances of Very High Concern in REACH legislation, according to DCA. And DCA says this list should be taken seriously, as “serious scientists” compiled it.

Previously, the European Chemicals Agency published a proposed list of 16 substances. If all goes according to plan, they expect the first candidate list to be approved – barring dissent – on Oct. 22, according to Geert Dancet, head of ECHA. According to article 33 of REACH, after that date, a manufacturer must disclose to customers if any of these 16 substances are contained in a product in an amount over 0.1% weight-by-weight, also providing safe use information.

Dancet indicated the expectation that the candidate list would be updated annually, but was somewhat noncommittal, says DCA.