To provide a method for efficiently producing an aromatic carboxylic acid, an aromatic aldehyde or an aromatic alcohol by liquid-phase oxidation of an aromatic hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst, with which an aromatic alcohol useful as a raw material for medicines, agrochemicals, resin additives, etc., is produced in high selectivity.

The production method comprises carrying out liquid-phase oxidation reaction of an aromatic hydrocarbon with molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst composed of a cobalt compound, a tertiary amine, a bromine compound and a compound of a heavy metal of at least one kind selected from manganese, copper and cerium.