Celanese Announces Intent to Reduce Production Capacity at Its Lanaken, Belgium, Acetate Tow Plant

Wed, April 22 2015

Proposal could reduce production capacity at plant by 50 percent

DALLAS & LANAKEN, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today proposed to employee representatives at the company’s Lanaken, Belgium, facility the reduction of acetate tow production capacity at the site by 50 percent.

“This proposal results from ongoing changes in the global demand for acetate tow products, especially in Europe, which has been declining and further shifting to Asia and developing countries, and is not in any way a reflection on the employees,” said Lou Purvis, vice president and general manager of the Consumer Specialties segment. “Going forward, given the capacity and capability of our global production assets, we are confident in our ability to reliably supply customers in the future from our facilities in Narrows, Virginia; Ocotlan, Mexico; and from the remaining capacity at the Lanaken plant.”

Celanese’s Lanaken site leaders will fully consult on the proposal with employee representatives and support them through this process. The company is committed to engaging in a transparent and constructive dialogue with its employee representatives; and if the company decides to implement the proposal, will work to assist employees with job search and career counselling.

Celanese’s Lanaken plant is located in the Belgian province of Limburg and has a current nameplate capacity of approximately 52,000 tons per year and employs approximately 240 employees.

Celanese’s current global acetate tow capacity is 177,000 metric tons.

About Celanese

Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. With sales almost equally divided between North America, Europe and Asia, the company uses the full breadth of its global chemistry, technology and business expertise to create value for customers and the corporation. Celanese partners with customers to solve their most critical needs while making a positive impact on its communities and the world. Based in Dallas, Texas, Celanese employs approximately 7,500 employees worldwide and had 2014 net sales of $6.8 billion. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com or our blog at www.celaneseblog.com.

All registered trademarks are owned by Celanese International Corporation or its affiliates.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain “forward-looking statements,” which include information concerning the company's plans, products, objectives, goals, strategies, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “would,” “might,” “will” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the company will realize these benefits or that these beliefs will prove correct. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: changes in general economic, business, political and regulatory conditions; changes in the price and availability of raw materials; the introduction of competing products by other companies; market acceptance of our products; changes in the degree of intellectual property and other legal protection afforded to our products and processes; the impact of technological developments and competition; adoption of new or different industry or regulatory standards; unanticipated operational or commercial difficulties, including failure of facilities or processes or products to be designed or constructed, or to operate, in accordance with specifications or expectations; the ability to achieve and maintain plant utilization; ability of third parties, including our commercial partners, suppliers or others, to comply with their commitments to us; increased costs under existing or future environmental regulations, including those relating to climate change; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation, or from changes in the laws, regulations or policies of governments or other governmental activities in the countries in which we operate; and various other factors discussed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances.

Celanese
Investor Relations:
Jon Puckett, +1 972-443-4965
jon.puckett@celanese.com
or
Media Relations – Global:
W. Travis Jacobsen, +1 972-443-3750
william.jacobsen@celanese.com
or
Media Relations Europe (Germany):
Jens Kurth, +49(0)69 45009 1574
j.kurth@celanese.com

Source: Celanese Corporation