To provide a method for manufacturing methyl terephthalate at a high selectivity and in a high yield and industrially advantageously.

This method for manufacturing methyl terephthalate is characterized by oxydizing 2,4-dimethylbenzaldehyde and/or it's oxydized derivative by using a gas containing molecular oxygen in a solvent containing acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst containing cobalt, para-aldehyde and/or acetaldehyde.