Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 704	$ 740
Trade receivables - third party and affiliates (net of allowance for doubtful accounts - 2011: $10; 2010: $12)	978	827
Non-trade receivables, net	203	253
Inventories	777	610
Deferred income taxes	101	92
Marketable securities, at fair value	64	78
Assets held for sale	0	9
Other assets	71	59
Total current assets	2,898	2,668
Investments in affiliates	841	838
Property, plant and equipment (net of accumulated depreciation - 2011: $1,284; 2010: $1,131)	3,233	3,017
Deferred income taxes	412	443
Other assets	334	289
Goodwill	780	774
Intangible assets, net	213	252
Total assets	8,711	8,281
Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings and current installments of long-term debt - third party and affiliates	161	228
Trade payables - third party and affiliates	713	673
Other liabilities	583	596
Deferred income taxes	27	28
Income taxes payable	129	17
Total current liabilities	1,613	1,542
Long-term debt	2,893	2,990
Deferred income taxes	116	116
Uncertain tax positions	205	273
Benefit obligations	1,214	1,359
Other liabilities	1,214	1,075
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders' equity
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2011 and 2010: 0 issued and outstanding)	0	0
Treasury stock, at cost (2011: 22,860,634 shares; 2010: 22,269,278 shares)	(857)	(829)
Additional paid-in capital	601	574
Retained earnings	2,338	1,851
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net	(626)	(670)
Total Celanese Corporation shareholders' equity	1,456	926
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total shareholders' equity	1,456	926
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	8,711	8,281
Series A common stock, $0.0001 par value, 400,000,000 shares authorized (2011: 178,962,353 issued and 156,101,719 outstanding; 2010: 178,028,571 issued and 155,759,293 outstanding)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	0	0
Series B common stock, $0.0001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized (2011 and 2010: 0 issued and outstanding)
Shareholders' equity
Common stock	$ 0	$ 0