Gasgoo Munich- Celanese (NYSE: CE) released its second-quarter 2026 earnings report on August 6, according to Gasgoo. The report shows that Celanese posted diluted earnings per share of $1.15 under U.S. GAAP, while adjusted EPS hit $2.45 — its highest level in nearly three years.
Image Credit: Celanese
Net sales climbed to $2.8 billion in the second quarter, an 18% sequential rise fueled by a 4% increase in volume and a 14% jump in pricing. The company posted consolidated operating income of $276 million, adjusted EBITDA of $470 million, and operating EBITDA of $649 million. That translates to margins of 10%, 17%, and 24%, respectively.
Breaking down the two major segments, net sales for the Engineering Materials business reached $1.45 billion, up 9% quarter-over-quarter, driven by a 3% rise in volume and a 6% increase in price. This segment generated operating income of $156 million and adjusted EBITDA of $234 million. Meanwhile, the Acetyl Chain business saw net sales surge 28% to $1.33 billion, with volume and price climbing 6% and 22%, respectively. It delivered operating income of $237 million and adjusted EBITDA of $321 million.
During the quarter, Celanese pushed forward with several strategic initiatives. On the engineering materials side, the company shuttered its composite production facility in Ulsan, South Korea, shifting output to bases in China and India, while also completing the optimization of its Nylon 66 production layout ahead of schedule. In the acetyl chain, Celanese successfully executed a rapid restart of the Frankfurt VAM unit and advanced the planned shutdown of its cellulose acetate facility in Lanaken, Belgium. These structural optimizations are expected to deliver more than $50 million in annualized fixed cost savings.
On the cash flow front, Celanese generated operating cash flow of $209 million, with free cash flow reaching $140 million. The company noted that capital expenditure remained prudent, aligning with its deleveraging priorities. The effective U.S. GAAP tax rate for the quarter was 8%.
Looking ahead, Celanese projects adjusted earnings per share for the third quarter will land between $1.35 and $1.75. The company maintained its full-year guidance of roughly $6.00 in adjusted EPS and free cash flow of $700 million to $800 million.
