Literature data are reviewed in the field of catalytic reaction of the direct transformation of methane into marketable chemicals (H 2 , C 2+ hydrocarbons, methanol, formaldehyde and higher oxygenates). At present the processes based on these reactions are not implemented in industry. Catalytic systems providing achievement of the maximal parameters (in the first, the yields of target products) were identified for each of the reactions, and the proximity to their potential commercialization was determined. The processes of synthesis of C 2+ and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons via oxidative condensation (dimerization) of methane and by the reaction of methane with C 3 –C 6 alkanes, respectively, are considered most promising for the semicommercial production in the nearest future. A considerable progress in the development of new zeolite and aluminosilicate modifications makes it possible to solve the problem of the fast catalyst deactivation during olefin methylation to produce hydrocarbons of the gasoline fraction. Implementation of the process of methane pyrolysis to carbon and H 2 is mainly limited by insufficient demand for the obtained types of carbon materials and by the low strength of the available catalysts for fixed catalyst bed processes. The yields of a number of products (methanol, formaldehyde) are not as high as the ones required for the process commercialization. As to the other products (higher oxygenates), a general possibility of their synthesis is only so far demonstrated.