Abstract: The invention relates to a method for catalytically producing an alkyl formate, wherein at least one alpha-hydroxy aldehyde, at least one alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid, at least one carbohydrate, and/or at least one glycoside is reacted by means of a vanadium-oxygen compound, which contains vanadium in the oxidation stage +IV or +V, or a salt thereof as a catalyst in the solution, wherein the solution contains an alkanol, and the alkyl formate produced as a reaction product is separated from at least one other resulting reaction product. The catalyst which is reduced during the catalytic reaction is restored to its starting state in an oxidation process.