PURPOSE: To obtain an aromatic amine in high selectivity and yield, facilitating the control of reaction heat, using an easily and inexpensively available material as a reducing agent, by reducing an aromatic nitro compound in the presence of a reduction catalyst using water as a reducing agent.

CONSTITUTION: An aromatic nitro compound (e.g. nitrobenzene) is made to contact with water at a molar ratio of 1/(1W50) in the presence of a reducing catalyst such as metal oxide (e.g. Fe2O3.Cr2O3) or noble metal in the absence of CO at 200W600°C at an LHSV of 0.05W10hr-1 under atmospheric pressure to obtain the objective compound such as aniline. The aromatic nitro compound is e.g. the compound of formula I, formula, II, formula III, formula IV (R is 1W4C hydrocarbon group; n is 1W3) or formula V (X is halogen) and the reducing catalyst is e.g. those based on Fe2O3, NiO, CuO, Cr2O3, MnO, Pt, Pd, etc. These components are used singly, in a state combined with each other or supported by SiO2, etc.