Disclosed is a method for producing an aromatic compound by substituting a sulfonic acid group of an aromatic sulfonic acid ester with a hydrogen atom in the presence of a platinum group metal catalyst. This method is characterized in that an aromatic compound is produced in the co-presence of an alkali metal carboxylate and/or ammonium formate. This method enables to highly efficiently produce an aromatic compound, wherein a sulfonic acid group of an aromatic sulfonic acid ester is substituted with a hydrogen atom, with good handleability without using metal magnesium.