TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: The methanol synthesis unit is operated at a temperature of 200-310 degrees C; and at a pressure of 2-10MPa. The process for the production of methyl ethanoate by carbonylation of dimethyl ether involves contacting dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide in the liquid reaction composition in a carbonylation unit. The methyl ethanoate exiting the carbonylation unit is purified to remove ethanoic acid, carbonylation catalyst and water, before its introduction into the hydrogenation unit. The methyl ethanoate stream introduced into the hydrogenation unit contains ethanoic acid of less than 5 wt.% (preferably less than 1 wt.%, especially less than 0.1 wt.%, and particularly less than 100 ppm); and water less than 20 (preferably less than 2, especially less than 0.2) wt.%. The methyl ethanoate feed is vaporized and introduced into the hydrogenation unit. The feed mixture including recycles, enters the hydrogenation unit at a temperature of more than 10 (preferably 20) degrees C, above its dew point temperature, by producing ethyl ethanoate during the carbonylation process and is introduced with methyl ethanoate into the hydrogenation reactor. In the process (P1), the carbon monoxide fed to the carbonylation unit and the hydrogen fed to the hydrogenation unit emanates from the separation of part of the synthesis gas produced; at least a part of the recovered methanol from the hydrogenation unit is used as feed for the etherification unit; and the methyl ethanoate/methanol close boiling point mixture and/or an ethyl ethanoate/ethanol azeotrope are isolated at the exit of the hydrogenation unit and reintroduced back into the hydrogenation unit. Preferred Components: The molar ratio of ((H2)-CO2))/((CO)+(CO2)) (where the concentrations of relevant components are expressed in mole percent) of the fresh synthesis gas feed stream fed into the methanol synthesis unit is 1.6-3. The catalyst used for methanol synthesis is a mixture of copper, zinc oxide, and a promoter such as chromia or alumina. The etherification unit comprises an etherification catalyst (preferably heterogeneous catalysts such as aluminum oxide and aluminum silicate, zeolite and supported heteropolyacid (such as silicotungstenic acid)). The liquid reaction composition comprises ethanoic acid, methyl ethanoate, an iridium catalyst, methyl iodide, water and at least one promoter. The concentration of water in the liquid reaction composition of the carbonylation unit is 0.1-15, (preferably 1-10, especially 1-6.5) wt.%. The iridium catalyst concentration in the liquid reaction composition is 100-6000 (preferably 700-3000) ppm. The promoter is selected from ruthenium, osmium, rhenium, cadmium, mercury, zinc, gallium, indium and tungsten and is present in the liquid reaction composition at a molar ratio of promoter:iridium of 0.5:1 and 15:1. The concentration of methyl iodide in the liquid reaction composition is 1-20 (preferably 5-16) wt.%. The pressure of the carbonylation reaction is 0.9-19.9 MPa; and the temperature of the carbonylation reaction is 100-300 degrees C. The methyl ethanoate contains carbonylation catalyst of less than 0.1 (preferably less than 0.05, especially less than 0.005) ppm. The molar ratio of hydrogen to (methyl ethanoate and ethyl ethanoate) that is introduced into the hydrogenation unit, is greater than 2:1 (preferably greater than 4:1, especially greater than 5:1), and is less than 100:1 (preferably less than 50:1, especially less than 15:1). The catalyst employed in the hydrogenation unit is a copper based catalyst. The copper based catalyst employed in the hydrogenation unit is a heterogeneous supported catalyst which comprises copper, and preferably promoters such as cobalt, manganese or chromium. The hydrogenation unit is operated in a mixed gas/liquid phase at a temperature of 150-290 degrees C, and at a pressure of 3-15 MPa. EXAMPLE - No suitable example is given.