Abstract: A continuous process for the production of alkyl esters from carboxylic acids wherein an aqueous stream containing a first carboxylic acid, RCO.sub.2 H, is contacted with an organic stream comprising a carboxylic acid ester, R"CO.sub.2 R', so that the organic stream is enriched with RCO.sub.2 H. The RCO.sub.2 H enriched organic stream is separated from the aqueous stream and is contacted with a catalyst to obtain a second carboxylic acid, R"CO.sub.2 H, and a product carboxylic acid ester, RCO.sub.2 R'. The product ester, RCO.sub.2 R', is separated from the second acid, R"CO.sub.2 H, the reactant ester, R"CO.sub.2 R', and the first acid, RCO.sub.2 H, and the second acid, R"CO.sub.2 H, is esterified to obtain the reactant ester, R"CO.sub.2 R', which is recycled to the initial part of the process. In this process R is aliphatic or aromatic, R' is alkyl and R" is aliphatic with at least about 4 carbon atoms.