The present invention relates to a continuous process for the production of nitrated substituted aromatic compounds by reacting substituted aromatic compounds with a nitrating mixture; wherein the substituted aromatic compounds are soluble in the nitrating mixture i.e. mixture of sulfuric and nitric acid. The instant invention describes a process by which it is possible to reduce the extent of stacking of substituted aromatic molecules by achieving conditions under which the substituted aromatic molecules can be made to react with nitronium ions in nitrating mixture before they undergo stack formation.