diff --git a/crates/xlsx/src/chart.rs b/crates/xlsx/src/chart.rs
index 052d620..3865eda 100644
--- a/crates/xlsx/src/chart.rs
+++ b/crates/xlsx/src/chart.rs
@@ -336,10 +336,46 @@ fn num_data(tag: &str, f: Option<&str>, wb: &Workbook, si: usize) -> String {
     s
 }
 
+/// Splits the inside of an array constant on `,` and `;` outside double quotes; inside quotes `""` is a literal quote.
+/// Unquoted items are trimmed; quoted ones keep the text between the quotes and drop the spaces around them.
+fn split_array_items(inner: &str) -> Vec<String> {
+    let mut items = Vec::new();
+    let mut cur = String::new();
+    let mut quoted = false;
+    let mut in_quote = false;
+    let mut chars = inner.chars().peekable();
+    let finish = |cur: &mut String, quoted: &mut bool| {
+        let text = std::mem::take(cur);
+        let item = if *quoted { text } else { text.trim().to_string() };
+        *quoted = false;
+        item
+    };
+    while let Some(c) = chars.next() {
+        match c {
+            '"' if in_quote && chars.peek() == Some(&'"') => {
+                cur.push('"');
+                chars.next();
+            }
+            '"' => {
+                if !quoted && cur.trim().is_empty() {
+                    cur.clear();
+                }
+                in_quote = !in_quote;
+                quoted = true;
+            }
+            ',' | ';' if !in_quote => items.push(finish(&mut cur, &mut quoted)),
+            c if quoted && !in_quote && c.is_whitespace() => {}
+            _ => cur.push(c),
+        }
+    }
+    items.push(finish(&mut cur, &mut quoted));
+    items
+}
+
 fn str_data(tag: &str, f: &str, wb: &Workbook, si: usize) -> String {
     let f = f.trim();
     if f.starts_with('{') {
-        let vals: Vec<String> = f.trim_matches(|c| c == '{' || c == '}').split([',', ';']).map(|v| v.trim().trim_matches('"').to_string()).collect();
+        let vals = split_array_items(f.trim_matches(|c| c == '{' || c == '}'));
         let mut s = format!("<c:{tag}><c:strLit><c:ptCount val=\"{}\"/>", vals.len());
         for (i, v) in vals.iter().enumerate() {
             let _ = write!(s, "<c:pt idx=\"{i}\"><c:v>{}</c:v></c:pt>", esc(v));
diff --git a/crates/xlsx/src/tests/literal_category_roundtrip.rs b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/literal_category_roundtrip.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c818de2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/literal_category_roundtrip.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+//! Literal chart categories that contain a comma, a semicolon or a quote stay one category on save.
+
+use gridcraft_model::{Anchor, Chart, ChartKind, LegendPos, Series, Sheet, Workbook};
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use crate::{read_xlsx, write_xlsx};
+
+#[test]
+fn literal_category_with_separators_survives_save() {
+    // (typed array constant, what reading the saved file gives back)
+    let cats = [
+        (r#"{"a,b"}"#, r#"{"a,b"}"#),
+        (r#"{"a;b"}"#, r#"{"a;b"}"#),
+        (r#"{"red","blue"}"#, r#"{"red","blue"}"#),
+        (r#"{"say ""hi"", ok"}"#, r#"{"say ""hi"", ok"}"#),
+        (r#"{"a,b","c;d","e"}"#, r#"{"a,b","c;d","e"}"#),
+        (r#"{ "Jan" , "Feb, Mar" ; Apr }"#, r#"{"Jan","Feb, Mar","Apr"}"#),
+    ];
+    let mut wb = Workbook::default();
+    let mut s = Sheet::new("Data");
+    let series: Vec<Series> = cats
+        .iter()
+        .map(|(c, _)| Series {
+            name: Some("North, South".into()),
+            categories: Some((*c).into()),
+            values: "{1,2,3}".into(),
+            bubble_sizes: None,
+            color: None,
+            secondary: false,
+            kind: None,
+            smooth: false,
+            trendlines: Vec::new(),
+        })
+        .collect();
+    s.charts.push(Chart {
+        id: 1,
+        kind: ChartKind::ColumnClustered,
+        anchor: Anchor { cell: gridcraft_core::CellRef::new(0, 3), width: 480.0, height: 300.0, ..Anchor::default() },
+        title: None,
+        series,
+        legend: LegendPos::Bottom,
+        data_labels: false,
+        gridlines: true,
+        style: 2,
+        x_title: None,
+        y_title: None,
+        source: None,
+        by_rows: false,
+        pivot: None,
+    });
+    wb.sheets = vec![Arc::new(s)];
+    let bytes = write_xlsx(&wb).unwrap();
+    let (back, _rep) = read_xlsx(&bytes).unwrap();
+    let saved = &back.sheets[0].charts[0].series;
+    for (i, (_, want)) in cats.iter().enumerate() {
+        assert_eq!(saved[i].categories.as_deref(), Some(*want));
+        assert_eq!(saved[i].name.as_deref(), Some("North, South"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/xlsx/src/tests/mod.rs b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/mod.rs
index 05302ad..dd06442 100644
--- a/crates/xlsx/src/tests/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/xlsx/src/tests/mod.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ mod array_export;
 mod csv_tests;
 mod encrypted_tests;
 mod fixtures;
+mod literal_category_roundtrip;
 mod malformed;
 mod ods_tests;
 mod passthrough_tests;