A process for producing an esterified cellulose ether comprises the step of reacting a cellulose ether with an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid anhydride and/or a dicarboxylic acid anhydride and with a depolymerizing agent wherein the cellulose ether has an initial viscosity of at least 500 mPa.s measured as a 2 weight % solution in water at 20°C and the reaction of the cellulose ether with the aliphatic monocarboxylic acid anhydride and/or the dicarboxylic acid anhydride and with the depolymerizing agent is conducted simultaneously or in sequence in one reaction device.
