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Initially simple first-order rate equations that predicted the rate of disappearance of methanol were used. The firstorder rate constant, however, depended on pressure and steam-to-methanol molar feed ratio (S/M) indicating the inadequacy of this approach. An attempt was made to improve on the simple first-order expression by including the reverse (synthesis) reaction and proposing an empirical expression for the concentration of CO in the product gas as a function of S/M and the methanol fractional conversion. A comprehensive kinetic model consisting of three rate expressions for each of three separate overall reactions has been developed. This model is able to predict the production rate of CO2, CO and H2 and is also reversible so that the equilibrium at high pressure is taken into account.