A process for the preparation of an olefin product comprising ethylene, which process comprises the steps of: a) converting an oxygenate feedstock in an oxygenate-to-olefins conversion system, comprising a reaction zone in which an oxygenate feedstock is contacted with an oxygenate conversion catalyst under oxygenate conversion conditions, to obtain a conversion effluent comprising ethylene and/or propylene; b) separating at least a portion of the propylene from the conversion effluent to form a propylene stream; c) separating the remainder of the olefins from the conversion effluent; and d) recycling at least a portion of the propylene stream to step a).