This invention relates to an improved process for converting methanol to light olefins using an ELAPO catalyst. The catalyst comprises a metal aluminophosphate molecular sieve having the empirical formula (EL.sub.x Al.sub.y P.sub.z)O.sub.2 where EL is a metal and x,y and z are mole fractions of EL, Al and P respectively. Preferred metals are silicon, magnesium and cobalt, with silicon especially preferred. The molecular sieve catalyst is composed of particles at least 50% of which have a particle size less than 1.0 .mu.m and no more than 10% of the particles have a particle size greater than 2.0 .mu.m. It is also preferred that the metal content (x) be from about 0.005 and 0.05 mole fraction.