A process for the production of propylene glycol from a lactate ester is disclosed. The process comprises supplying a feed comprising a C3-6 alkyl lactate ester. The feed is contacted with a stream of hydrogen containing gas and subjected to hydrogenation in the vapour phase in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of from about 130° C. to about 185° C., a pressure of from about 20 bar to about 60 bar, and a weight hourly space velocity greater than about 0.3 h−1. The catalyst is a reduced copper catalyst selected from copper alumina, optionally comprising manganese, copper chromite, copper zinc oxide and Raney copper.