Process for manufacturing a mixture of methanol and higher alcohols from synthesis gas

In a process for manufacturing primary alcohols, comprising reacting carbon oxides, said oxides being CO,CO.sub.2 or a mixture thereof, with hydrogen, in the presence of a multimetallic catalyst, the improvement wherein said catalyst comprises copper, cobalt, aluminum, and at least one alkali or alkaline-earth metal A selected the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, and barium, such that the atomic ratios of said metals are:

• Cu/Co=0.1-5, Al/Co=0.7-4, metal A/Co=0.05-1.5;
• wherein the proportions by weight of each metal element with respect to the total metals weight are:
• copper=10-65%
• cobalt=5-50%
• aluminum=5-40%
• metal A=0.1-15%
• and wherein the catalyst has a homogeneity such that the cobalt/aluminum atomic ratio varies less than 15% from the average value of said ratio, determined on a 5 nanometer scale.