The present invention relates to a process for the microbial production of L-valine in which the dihydroxy acid-synthase (ilvD) activity and/or the ilvD gene expression is intensified in a microorganism. As an alternative or in combination with this, the acetohydroxy acid-synthase (ilvBN) activity and isomeroreductase (ilvC) activity and/or the ilvBNC gene expression are intensified in a microorganism. The process according to the invention preferably makes use of microorganisms in which the activity of at least one enzyme that is involved in a metabolic pathway that reduces the formation of L-valine is weakened or eliminated. Thus, for instance, the process according to the invention preferably makes use of microorganisms having a defect mutation in the threonine dehydratase (ilvA) gene and/or a defect mutation in one or more genes of the pantothenate synthesis.