To obtain a fluorinated aromatic compound of high purity in high yield with easy recovery of the solvent, that is useful as a starting chemical or the like by allowing a specific halogenated aromatic compound to react with an alkali metal fluoride in a specific solvent.

A halogenated aromatic compound, for example, 2- chlorobenzonitrile or the like represented by formula I (X is a halogen; n is 1-5; where in the case of n=1, X is a halogen other than F, in the case of n=2-5, one or more X are halogens other than F; Y is cyano, nitro and trifluoromethyl) is allowed to react with an alkali metal fluoride, for example, potassium fluoride in one or more kinds of solvents selected from tolunitrile, for example, p-tolunitrile or the like; and a cyanopyridine, for example, 2- cyanopyridine or the like to give a compound represented by formula II (m is 1-5; p is n-m), for example, 2,6-difluorobenzonitrile or the like. After completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is distilled, rectified and the residual fraction is recycled and used in the following reaction.