The invention relates to a method for producing a C13 alcohol mixture, according to which a) a stream of C4 hydrocarbon containing butenes, which includes less than 5 % by weight of iso-butene in relation to the butene fraction, is brought into contact with a heterogeneous catalyst containing a nickel at a raised temperature, b) a C12 olefin fraction is isolated from the reaction mixture, c) the C12 olefin fraction is hydroformulated by being reacted with carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the presence of a cobalt catalyst and d) is hydrated. The alcohol mixture thus obtained is suitable for producing surfactants by alkoxylation, glycosidation, sulphation, phosphation, alkoxylation and subsequent sulphation or alkoxylation and subsequent phosphation.