Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net sales	$ 1,633	$ 1,589
Cost of sales	(1,363)	(1,238)
Gross profit	270	351
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(134)	(128)
Amortization of intangible assets	(13)	(16)
Research and development expenses	(26)	(23)
Other (charges) gains, net	0	3
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	1	1
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	0	0
Operating profit (loss)	98	188
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	51	43
Interest expense	(45)	(55)
Refinancing expense	0	0
Interest income	1	1
Dividend income - cost investments	0	0
Other income (expense), net	2	3
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	107	180
Income tax (provision) benefit	76	(42)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	183	138
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	0	6
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	0	(2)
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	4
Net earnings (loss)	183	142
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	183	142
Cumulative preferred stock dividends	0	0
Net earnings (loss) available to common stockholders	183	142
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	183	138
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	0	4
Net earnings (loss)	$ 183	$ 142
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations	$ 1.17	$ 0.88
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.03
Net earnings (loss) - basic	$ 1.17	$ 0.91
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations	$ 1.15	$ 0.87
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.03
Net earnings (loss) - diluted	$ 1.15	$ 0.90
Weighted average shares - basic	156,542,424	155,966,259
Weighted average shares - diluted	159,080,760	158,666,687