Aromatic polyesters are made in a continuous process in an extruder or extruder-like apparatus by reacting at elevated temperatures dicarboxylic acids, aliphatic esters of aromatic diols, and optionally aliphatic esters of aromatic hydroxyacids in an extruder while removing byproduct aliphatic carboxylic acid. The resulting aromatic polyesters, especially thermotropic liquid crystalline aromatic polyesters, are useful as molding resins for a variety of uses, for example electronic and electrical parts.