Celanese Reports Q2 2026 Net Sales of $2.8 Billion, Up 18% Sequentially

Celanese released its second-quarter earnings report on August 6, 2026. The report showed that the company recorded net sales of $2.8 billion for the quarter, an 18% increase sequentially, driven by a 4% rise in volumes and a 14% increase in pricing. On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share were $1.15, while adjusted earnings per share stood at $2.45. Consolidated operating income for the second quarter was $276 million, adjusted EBIT was $470 million, and adjusted EBITDA was $649 million, corresponding to margins of 10%, 17%, and 24%, respectively. By business segment, Engineering Materials reported net sales of $1.45 billion, up 9% sequentially (volumes +3%, pricing +6%), with operating income of $156 million and adjusted EBIT of $234 million. The Acetyl Chain reported net sales of $1.33 billion, up 28% sequentially (volumes +6%, pricing +22%), with operating income of $237 million and adjusted EBIT of $321 million. On strategic initiatives, the Engineering Materials segment completed the shutdown of its Ulsan, South Korea compounding facility, shifting production to its sites in China and India, and also finished ahead of schedule its optimization plan for nylon 66 production. In the Acetyl Chain, the company successfully executed a rapid restart of its VAM unit in Frankfurt and is progressing with the planned shutdown of its cellulose acetate facility in Langerbrugge, Belgium. These actions are expected to deliver over $50 million in annualized fixed cost savings. In terms of cash flow, the company generated $209 million in operating cash flow and $140 million in free cash flow during the second quarter. Capital expenditures remained disciplined, aligned with the company’s deleveraging priorities. The effective tax rate under U.S. GAAP was 8%. Celanese expects third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.35 to $1.75, full-year 2026 adjusted EPS of approximately $6.00, and full-year free cash flow between $700 million and $800 million.