Process for the production of formaldehyde

In a process for oxidizing methanol to formaldehyde wherein a gaseous feed stream containing a mixture of methanol and air is heated to from 200.degree. C. to 400.degree. C. and passed over a metal oxide catalyst bed which promotes substantially complete oxidation of the methanol to formaldehyde and the resulting formaldehyde is separated from the gaseous oxidation product, the improvement which comprises recycling only a cooled portion of said oxidation product to the feed stream before any formaldehyde has been separated therefrom in an amount which provides a molar ratio of formaldehyde to methanol of between 0.3 and 5 in the mixture of the recycled portion of the oxidation product with the feed stream and passing this mixture over the said catalyst bed.