The production and certain kinetic characteristics of extracellular lipase from Aspergillus niger were investigated. it was possible to substantially enhance the activity of excreted lipase by optimising the interaction between carbon and nitrogen sources applying a two-parameter complete experimental design and response surface analysis. The enzyme was partially purified and a number of kinetic characteristics such as optimum pH and temperature, thermal and pH stability and K-m were determined and discussed. The elevated levels of lipase activity (40.5 U/ml) found in this work competed favourably with most of those reported for lipase hyperproducing fungi.