Experimental analysis and quantitative kinetic modeling were performed on methanol gasification in supercritical water using continuous reactor at different reaction temperatures (550–650 ℃), pressures (21–25 MPa), residence times (6–60 s), and initial methanol concentrations (0.05–0.2 molL−1) to investigate the mechanism underlying methanol gasification and conversion. The kinetic model consisted of eight separate reaction pathways. Simultaneously, reaction rate and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Higher temperatures, longer residence times and lower feedstock concentrations were beneficial for the yields of H2 and CO2. Kinetic analysis showed that H2 and CO2 generation mainly occurred through the hydrolysis of methanol. CO was mainly consumed during the forward water-gas shift reaction, and the production of CH4 depended primarily on methanol methanation. Additionally, methanol hydrolysis was identified as an important elementary reaction for CH4 production by sensitivity analysis.