A process for producing a catalytically active composition being a mixture of a multielement oxide comprising the elements Mo and V and at least one oxide of molybdenum, in which spray drying of an aqueous solution or of an aqueous suspension of starting compounds comprising the elements of the multielement oxide produces a spray powder P, a pulverulent oxide of molybdenum and optionally shaping assistants are added thereto, shaped bodies are shaped from the resulting mixture and these are converted to the catalytically active composition by thermal treatment.