Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of azo compounds of the formula ##STR1## wherein K is the radical of a coupling component, R is a water-solubilising group and X is a fibre-reactive radical, and the benzene ring A may be further substituted, which process comprises reacting a compound of the formula ##STR2## in an aqueous medium containing 5 to 25% by weight of an alkali metal halide or alkali metal sulfate, based on the weight of the medium, with a compound which introduces the radical X to give the compound of the formula ##STR3## diazotising said compound direct and coupling the diazotisation product with a coupling component of the formulaH--K (4)in which formulae (2), (3) and (4) A, R, X and K are as defined for formula (1).