A method for producing an oxygenate, comprising: a desulfurization step where a raw material gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide is contacted with the desulfurizing agent in a desulfurization apparatus; and a synthesis step where the raw material gas treated in the desulfurization step is contacted with an oxygenate-synthesis catalyst comprising rhodium in the synthesis apparatus, wherein the desulfurization apparatus and the synthesis apparatus are separately provided and connected in series, wherein the desulfurizing agent is prepared by a method comprising steps to, wherein a copper compound and a compound of at least one optional metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum and chromium are dissolved in water to obtain an aqueous solution of metals, the obtained aqueous solution of metals and an aqueous solution of a precipitant are dropwise added to a purified water having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, or the aqueous solution of metals is dropwise added to an aqueous solution of a precipitant having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, the obtained precipitate is washed with purified water, followed by drying at 100 to 150 °C to obtain a dried product, and the obtained dried product is calcined at 250 to 350 °C to obtain a desulfurizing agent, and wherein the oxygenate-synthesis catalyst is a supported catalyst in which rhodium and a metal are supported on a silica carrier, said supported catalyst having a composition represented by formula below: aA · bB · cC · dD wherein A represents rhodium, B represents manganese, C represents an alkali metal, D represents titanium, and a, b, c and d represent molar ratios with the proviso that a + b + c + d = 1, a is 0.053 to 0.98, b is 0.0006 to 0.67, c is 0.00056 to 0.51, and d is 0.0026 to 0.94. a synthesis step where the raw material gas treated in the desulfurization step is contacted with an oxygenate-synthesis catalyst comprising rhodium in the synthesis apparatus, wherein the desulfurization apparatus and the synthesis apparatus are separately provided and connected in series, wherein the desulfurizing agent is prepared by a method comprising steps to, wherein a copper compound and a compound of at least one optional metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum and chromium are dissolved in water to obtain an aqueous solution of metals, the obtained aqueous solution of metals and an aqueous solution of a precipitant are dropwise added to a purified water having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, or the aqueous solution of metals is dropwise added to an aqueous solution of a precipitant having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, the obtained precipitate is washed with purified water, followed by drying at 100 to 150 °C to obtain a dried product, and the obtained dried product is calcined at 250 to 350 °C to obtain a desulfurizing agent, and a copper compound and a compound of at least one optional metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, aluminum and chromium are dissolved in water to obtain an aqueous solution of metals, the obtained aqueous solution of metals and an aqueous solution of a precipitant are dropwise added to a purified water having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, or the aqueous solution of metals is dropwise added to an aqueous solution of a precipitant having a temperature of 60 to 90 °C while stirring, to thereby form a precipitate, the obtained precipitate is washed with purified water, followed by drying at 100 to 150 °C to obtain a dried product, and the obtained dried product is calcined at 250 to 350 °C to obtain a desulfurizing agent, and wherein the oxygenate-synthesis catalyst is a supported catalyst in which rhodium and a metal are supported on a silica carrier, said supported catalyst having a composition represented by formula below: aA · bB · cC · dD