The invention relates to an improved process for the production of isocyanates by the reaction of an amine or a mixture of two or more amines with phosgene, the improvement involving the phosgene containing less than about 100 ppm of sulfur in elemental or bound form. The inventive process yields light-colored isocyanates that are suitable for the production of polyurethanes or their precursors (e.g. prepolymers) without the treatment processes heretofore required.