In a process for producing a polynitrile compound comprising introducing a polysubstituted organic compound (POC) which is a carbon ring or heterocyclic compounds having a plurality of organic substituents into a reactor with ammonia and a gas containing oxygen and ammoxidizing POC in the presence of a catalyst, at least a portion of the unreacted POC and a mononitrile compound of an intermediate product in the reaction gas discharged from the reactor is separated, recovered and recycled to the reactor so that the flow rate of the mononitrile compound at the outlet of the reactor is 2 to 16% by mole of the total flow rate of POC and the mononitrile compound supplied to the reactor.Burning reaction of the side reaction is suppressed and the loss of POC can be decreased without adverse effects on productivity and the polynitrile compound can be obtained at a high yield.