106.7 and 37.6 g/L of xylitol were obtained using free or immobilized cultures of the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii NRRL Y-7426 (volumetric productivity of 1.48 g/L.h and 0.31 g/L.h respectively). In subsequent steps, the immobilized cultures reached a higher volumetric productivity (2.08 g/L.h) but the xylitol concentration and volumetric productivity with free cultures decreased drastically (45.6 g/L and 0.38 g/L.h respectively). The immobilized cultures could be reused keeping similar productivities.