<p>Production of trimethylolpropane (TMP) having a low APHA color number comprises formation of a TMP containing reaction mixture; removal of water and inorganic salt from the crude trimethylolpropane and separation of the resulting crude trimethylolpropane by distillation to form a light boiling fraction, a TMP containing middle fraction and a high boiling fraction. A process for the production of trimethylolpropane (TMP) having a low APHA color number comprises: (A) reaction of n-butyraldehyde and/or 2,2-dimethylolbutyraldehyde with formaldehyde in the presence of inorganic base to form a trimethylolpropane containing reaction mixture; (B) at least partial removal of water and inorganic salt from the crude trimethylolpropane; (C) separation of the resulting crude trimethylolpropane by distillation to form one or more light boiling fractions, one or more predominantly trimethylolpropane containing middle boiling fractions and one or more high boiling fractions.</p>