Celanese Corporation has reported GAAP diluted earnings per share of $4.03 and adjusted earnings per share of $4.99 for the second quarter of 2022. The Company generated net sales of $2.5 billion in the second quarter, a 2 percent decrease from the prior quarter and a 13 percent increase over the same quarter of 2021. Pricing increased 2 percent sequentially, the seventh consecutive quarter of pricing expansion, and partially offset a 2 percent decrease in volume and a 2 percent unfavorable currency impact. Celanese successfully mitigated continued cost inflation as well as unanticipated interruptions in raw material supply in the U.S. Gulf Coast to deliver second quarter consolidated operating profit of $483 million and adjusted EBIT of $646 million. In anticipation of the close of the DuPont M&M acquisition targeted for the fourth quarter of 2022, the Company has secured approximately $10.5 billion in permanent financing for the acquisition across a series of transactions, including two successful registered offerings of senior notes in the third quarter.

 

"I thank our teams for delivering, across the first half of this year, the strongest six month performance in our history," said Lori Ryerkerk, chairman and chief executive officer. "Their exceptional execution of our business models and M&A action plan, including securing financing for the M&M acquisition amid a challenging market backdrop, has prepared us to address, from a position of strength, some of the developing macro concerns."

 

 

Engineered Materials generated record net sales of $948 million in the second quarter due to a sequential price increase of 6 percent and volume increase of 1 percent that offset a 3 percent unfavorable currency impact. The business delivered sequential volume growth by offsetting a decline in global auto builds through commercial wins from the pipeline model, growth in electric vehicle applications, and initial contributions from restructuring KEPCO to a manufacturing joint venture. Engineered Materials reported the sixth consecutive quarter of pricing expansion through the energy surcharge, improved product mix, and other commercial actions that fully offset additional cost inflation in the quarter. The energy surcharge implemented by the business in the fourth quarter of 2021 continued to successfully mitigate the impact of sequential energy inflation in Europe and the Americas. Engineered Materials delivered second highest-ever quarterly GAAP operating profit of $166 million and highest-ever quarterly adjusted EBIT of $224 million, increases over the prior quarter of $42 million and $13 million, respectively. Affiliate earnings contributed an additional $4 million sequentially, as strong performance at Ibn Sina offset the impact of the KEPCO restructuring.

 

The Acetyl Chain generated second quarter net sales of $1.5 billion, a sequential decline of 5 percent due to a 3 percent decrease in volume and a 2 percent unfavorable currency impact. Volume declined sequentially primarily due to production losses at the Clear Lake, Texas facility as a result of supply disruptions from the two largest external raw material suppliers to that site. The disruption was resolved and the Acetyl Chain is currently operating its Clear Lake facility at full operating rates. In response to the disruption and the subsequent declaration of force majeure, the business immediately sourced product in the market and diverted significant volume produced in Asia to Europe. The business continued to leverage the optionality of its integrated product chain to capture value from products downstream of acetic acid and set a record for variable margin contribution from these products. The Acetyl Chain delivered second quarter GAAP operating profit of $429 million and adjusted EBIT of $440 million at margins of 29 percent and 30 percent, respectively. For the second consecutive quarter, the Acetyl Chain has delivered $2 billion in GAAP operating profit and adjusted EBIT in the trailing 12 month period.

 

Acetate Tow generated net sales of $119 million during the second quarter, which reflected a sequential volume decrease of 6 percent and stable pricing. Second quarter GAAP operating loss was $1 million and adjusted EBIT was $35 million. Dividends from affiliates in the quarter were $36 million. The Company initiated a strategic overhaul of the Acetate Tow business and will begin a transition to managing acetate flake and tow within the Acetyl Chain as downstream derivatives of acetic acid.

 

"At this stage, the third quarter order books look largely as expected, with some indications of softening demand including modest order deferrals and signals of normalizing inventory levels at customers," said Lori Ryerkerk. "While we see little firsthand indications that support a view of dramatic demand deterioration, we are taking controllable actions across the organization to prepare ourselves to continue to generate strong cash flow and to swiftly pay down debt balances following the close of the M&M acquisition. In the third quarter, we expect adjusted earnings of $4.00 to $4.50 per share, with performance at the bottom end of the range reflective of the potential for additional modest demand softening as we progress through the quarter. Short of a sharp deterioration in demand, which we do not currently foresee, we expect to deliver 2022 adjusted earnings per share approximately in line with our 2021 adjusted earnings per share performance."