Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Net sales	$ 6,418	$ 6,763	$ 5,918
Cost of sales	(5,226)	(5,329)	(4,738)
Gross profit	1,192	1,434	1,180
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(507)	(536)	(505)
Amortization of intangible assets	(51)	(62)	(61)
Research and development expenses	(102)	(96)	(70)
Other (charges) gains, net	(14)	(48)	(46)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(4)	0	(3)
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	(3)	(2)	8
Operating profit (loss)	511	690	503
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	242	192	168
Interest expense	(185)	(221)	(204)
Refinancing expense	(3)	(3)	(16)
Interest income	2	3	7
Dividend income - cost investments	85	80	73
Other income (expense), net	5	14	7
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	657	755	538
Income tax (provision) benefit	(48)	(149)	(112)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	609	606	426
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	(6)	2	(80)
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	2
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	2	(1)	29
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(4)	1	(49)
Net earnings (loss)	605	607	377
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	605	607	377
Cumulative preferred stock dividends	0	0	(3)
Net earnings (loss) available to common stockholders	605	607	374
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	609	606	426
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(4)	1	(49)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 605	$ 607	$ 377
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations	$ 3.84	$ 3.88	$ 2.73
Discontinued operations	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.31)
Net earnings (loss) - basic	$ 3.82	$ 3.89	$ 2.42
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations	$ 3.81	$ 3.81	$ 2.69
Discontinued operations	$ (0.02)	$ 0.01	$ (0.31)
Net earnings (loss) - diluted	$ 3.79	$ 3.82	$ 2.38
Weighted average shares - basic	158,325,442	156,204,077	154,564,136
Weighted average shares - diluted	159,796,314	158,947,834	158,372,192