In a method for preparing an ester from an hydroxybenzoic acid and a fatty alcohol for use in a binder system for powder injection molding, transesterification of an ester of the hydroxybenzoic acid and a low alcohol using the fatty alcohol is carried out, the fatty alcohol and the ester of the hydroxybenzoic acid and the low alcohol forming a reaction mixture and being used in an essentially equimolar ratio. The transesterification is carried out at a temperature at which the ester of the hydroxybenzoic acid and the low alcohol and the fatty alcohol are present as a homogeneous melt. The binder system for a powder injection molding contains 80 to 98 wt. % of a metal powder and/or a ceramic powder and 1 to 19 wt. % of a polymeric binder component, and 1 to 19 wt. % of at least one ester prepared by the transesterification.