To provide a method for producing benzene compounds free from side chain or benzene compounds having short side chain from polystyrene and other plastic materials by a hydrocracking method in high yield.

The method for producing benzene compounds comprises a dissolution step to heat and mix polystyrene and a solvent to obtain a polystyrene solution, a hydrocracking step to react the polystyrene solution obtained by the dissolution step with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst to perform hydrocracking reaction, and a distillation step to distill the hydrocracking reaction product produced by the hydrocracking step to obtain benzene compounds, provided that at least a part of the light fraction having a boiling point of 130-140°C and obtained by the distillation step is returned to the dissolution step.

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