The co-precipitation method was used to prepare a reference catalyst composed of copper/zinc oxide (Cu/Zn), as well as a series of Cu/Zn catalysts promoted by monocomponent rare earth (Cu/mRE-Zn) and bicomponent rare earth (Cu/bRE-Zn). The prepared catalysts were tested in a packed-bed reactor in the production of hydrogen via the steam reforming of methanol (SRM). The experimental SRM performance of the prepared catalysts was compared according to three fundamental criteria: the minimum temperature required for 95% conversion of methanol (T(95)), the selectivity of CO in the hydrogen-rich gas produced (S(CO)), and the decay rate (k) at T(95). The catalysts followed the performance trend Cu/bRE-Zn > Cu/mRE-Zn > Cu/Zn in the SRM tests. Distinctly high SRM performance, i.e., low values for T(95) (210 degrees C), S(CO) (0.04%), and k (negligible in 16 h), was observed using the Cu/bRE-Zn catalyst. The high performance of Cu/bRE-Zn catalysts was attributed to good adhesion of RE oxides to both CuO and ZnO. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.