A novel process for industrially producing an aromatic nitrile compound represented by the following general formula (3): ##STR00001## characterized in that one of an aromatic hydroxymethyl compound, an aromatic alkoxymethyl compound and an aromatic aldehyde compound, all represented by the following general formula (1): ##STR00002## or a mixture thereof is reacted with an oxidized bromine compound represented by the general formula (2) MBrO.sub.m (2) in the presence of an acid catalyst and either ammonia or an ammonium sat.