Method for producing macrocyclic lactone

A method for producing a macrocyclic lactone represented by a formula (2), which comprises carrying out intramolecular esterification of a hydroxycarboxylic acid or a lower alkyl ester thereof, obtained by partially reducing a dibasic acid represented by a formula (6) or a lower alkyl ester thereof, in the presence of an alcohol represented by a formula (5):

• wherein m is an integer of from 5 to 10, n is an integer wherein m+n becomes from 11 to 16, X represents —CH,—, —CH═CH—, —O—, —S— or —NH—, and R represents a hydrocarbon group having from (m+n+2) to 40 carbon atoms or a group represented by —(AO)pR1 wherein AO represents an alkyleneoxy group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, p is average addition mole number of alkylene oxide and R1 represents a hydrocarbon group having a specified number of carbon atoms so that the total number of carbon atoms of the —(AO)pR1 group becomes from (m+n+2) to 40.