The chemical industry appears cautiously upbeat about the next few years, according to CP＇s research for this three-part article. Depending on their sectors of the business, members of Chemical Processing magazine＇s new advisory board expressed optimism that ranged from wary to unbridled. A poll of 1,000 CP readers found the vast majority expected their companies to grow or hold their own in the coming year, Numbers from the Chemical Manufacturers Association and the United States Department of Commerce didn＇t look great--but they looked good.