Celanese announces force majeure for many intermediate chemicals in Asia

On February 18, 2021, chemical producer Celanese Corp (Celanese Corp) stated that due to severe weather in Texas, it announced force majeure for deliveries in the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Asia (EMEA). These include acetic acid, vinyl acetate monomer, ethyl acetate and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer.

A long list of companies around Texas and New Mexico ceased operations as they struggled to cope with the rare deep freeze, which has killed nearly twenty people and destroyed millions of electricity.

Celanese said its decision was due to unplanned work stoppages and similar notices from its own suppliers and service providers on the Texas Gulf Coast.

The chemical company said that the company and its partners’ factories continue to be below freezing temperatures, preventing Celanese people from obtaining the natural gas, electricity, industrial natural gas and other raw materials needed to operate the facility.

The company added that due to the "rapidly evolving" nature of the situation, it cannot provide exact details or the full impact on customers, but it will notify them when production resumes.