Molded catalyst materials contain metallic cobalt and/or nickel particles and a lubricant, the said particles being obtained by reduction of cobalt oxide and/or nickel oxide particles containing less than 0.1% by weight of alkali metal oxides and/or alkaline earth metal oxides at .ltoreq.500.degree. C., and the molded catalyst material having an indentation hardness greater than 300 kp/cm.sup.2.