Method for producing electrode material for lithium ion batteries

A method for producing a graphite material for lithium ion batteries, including a step for exothermically graphitizing a carbon material by directly applying an electric current therethrough. The carbon material is obtained by heating at a temperature in the range of 800° C.-1500° C. inclusive and subsequently pulverizing an organic carbon starting material, has a compact powder resistivity of 0.3 cm or less when compressed to a density of 1.4 g/cm3, has an angle of repose in the range of 20° to 50° inclusive, and has a particle size (D90) in the volume-based particle size distribution measured using laser diffraction of 120 μm or less. The average surface interval (d002) of a surface (002) of the carbon material after graphitization, measured using x-ray diffraction, is in the range of 0.3354 nm-0.3450 nm inclusive.