Celanese Corporation's (CE) stock experienced a plummet of 22.41% in the pre-market trading session on Wednesday, February 19. The sharp decline came after the specialty materials and chemicals maker reported a quarterly loss and cited persistent weak demand across key markets, particularly in the automotive, paints, and industrial sectors.

The challenging demand environment has significantly impacted Celanese's financial performance, leading to a substantial loss in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company's management expressed concerns about the prolonged weakness in demand, indicating that the company is grappling with a difficult operating environment across its core markets.

Analysts and industry experts anticipate Celanese's struggles to continue into 2025 until demand recovers, particularly in the critical automotive and industrial segments. The company's weak outlook for the first quarter of 2025, coupled with forecasts of a $100 million hit from various headwinds, further exacerbated concerns among investors, contributing to the sharp sell-off in the stock.