By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : February 19, 2026 5:33 pm
Results were impacted by year-end destocking and competitive pressures in acetate tow
Celanese Corporation, a global chemical and specialty materials company, has reported a full-year 2025 U.S. GAAP diluted loss per share of $10.44, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $3.98.
The company posted net sales of $9.5 billion, down 7% from 2024, reflecting a 4% decline in both price and volume, partially offset by a modest currency benefit.
Lower-than-expected demand hit key end-markets including automotive, paints, coatings, and construction, weighing on results. Despite the headwinds, Celanese emphasized its focus on strategic priorities: boosting cash flow to accelerate deleveraging, intensifying cost improvements, and driving top-line growth.
The company recorded a 2025 consolidated operating loss of $786 million, with adjusted EBIT of $1.2 billion and operating EBITDA of $1.9 billion, corresponding to margins of (8)%, 12%, and 20%, respectively. Operating cash flow reached $1.1 billion, while free cash flow totaled $773 million. The gap between U.S. GAAP and adjusted EPS was driven largely by Certain Items totaling $1.6 billion.
In the fourth quarter, Celanese reported U.S. GAAP diluted EPS of $0.23 and adjusted EPS of $0.67 on net sales of $2.2 billion, down 9% sequentially due to a 7% drop in volume and a 2% decline in price. The quarter delivered a consolidated operating profit of $93 million, adjusted EBIT of $251 million, and operating EBITDA of $435 million, with margins of 4%, 11%, and 20%, respectively.
Results were impacted by year-end destocking and competitive pressures in acetate tow, partially offset by cost reductions and mix improvements in Engineered Materials. Operating cash flow for the quarter was $252 million, and free cash flow reached $160 million.
“Our full‑year performance demonstrates the strength of our action plans and disciplined execution in a challenging environment,” said Scott Richardson, president and chief executive officer.
“With over $770 million of free cash flow generation, over $120 million in cost reductions, the Micromax divestiture completed, near-term maturities refinanced, and programs in place to drive growth and enrich our EM pipeline, we've made considerable progress against our priorities of deleveraging, cost improvement, and top‑line growth.
"While fourth‑quarter results reflected anticipated seasonality and softer volumes, the decisive steps we took throughout 2025—portfolio actions, cost reductions, footprint optimization, and prudent refinancing—position us well for continued improvement.”