In a process for the preparation of the derivative of benzene containing at least one trifluoromethyl group by reaction of the corresponding trichloromethyl compound with liquid hydrogen fluoride, by subsequently distilling the reaction products under pressure thus eliminating the newly formed hydrogen chloride, and by subsequently isolating the remaining reaction products, the improvement for continuous processing which comprises continuously feeding the reactants into a reaction zone under an effective pressure in excess of 20 absolute atmospheres to maintain a sufficiently homogeneous reaction mixture to solubilize the reactants, with the hydrogen fluoride reactant being in at least a 25 mol % excess as compared to the stoichiometric proportion, blending said mixture in said zone by means limited to the agitation caused by the pressurized feeding of the reactants into said zone, withdrawing the reaction products from said zone proportionately to the feeding-in rate of the reactants, said reaction zone being maintained in a reaction temperature range of above 80.degree. to about 150.degree.C, said reaction having been initiated by precharging said zone with liquid hydrogen fluoride alone or in homogeneous mixture with said trichloromethyl compounds and hydrogen chloride to a pressure of at least 20 atmospheres.