Dinitrotoluene is produced by nitration of toluene with nitrating acid (mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid) in which, in a first stage, the toluene is converted to mononitrotoluene (MNT) and then the mononitrotoluene is converted in a second stage to dinitrotoluene (DNT). Control of the weight ratio of the aqueous to organic phases, dispersion of the organic phase in the aqueous phase and use of less than 2.06 moles of nitric acid per mole of toluene are key features of this process.