Disclosed is an efficient and widely-applicable method for commercially producing a thioether compound or a thiol compound which is useful as a pharmaceutical compound or a production intermediate of it. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing a thioether compound represented by the general formula [I] below or a salt thereof. This method is characterized in that a compound represented by the following general formula [III]: [III] (wherein X represents a bromine atom, a chlorine atom or a trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy group, and ring A represents an aryl group or a heteroaryl ring group) or a salt thereof is reacted with a thiol compound represented by the following general formula [II]: [II] or a salt thereof in the presence of a palladium compound such as Pd.sub.2(dba).sub.3, a base such as i-Pr.sub.2NEt and a phosphorus compound represented by the following formula [AA].