The invention provides process for producing a PPE resin composition containing PPE powder using an extruder comprising: a vent pipe; a polyphenylene ether (herein after referred to as “PPE”) powder supplying pipe; an extruder supply hopper having an opening with a wall angle of 60° or more; and an extruder unit, wherein the vent pipe and the PPE powder supplying pipe each have an terminal orifice located in the opening of the extruder supply hopper, and wherein the PPE powder supplying pipe is disposed at a gear box-side portion of the extruder supply hopper, and the vent pipe is disposed at a die-side portion, relative to the PPE powder supplying pipe, of the extruder supply hopper, which process comprises the steps of: supplying the PPE powder to a gear box-side wall of the extruder supply hopper through the PPE powder supplying pipe; removing a gas accompanying the PPE powder in an effective amount through the vent pipe; and melt-kneading a mixture containing the degassed PPE powder with the extruder unit.