The present invention relates to a method for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which converts a fructose-containing component using a catalyst system comprising a solution of a salt and acid mixture at a temperature of 90 to 200° C. and leads to obtaining an HMF-containing product mixture, wherein advantageously a high HMF selectivity with significantly lower by-product formation is achieved at the same time.