To provide a carbon nanofiber having a surface of a lipophilic amorphous carbon layer, high in DBP (dibutylphthalate) absorption and thereby excellent in dispersibility in resin, and to provide a method for producing the carbon nanofiber.

The method for producing carbon nanofiber having a surface of a lipophilic amorphous carbon layer and ≥150 ml/100g DBP absorption comprises a vapor growth method growing graphite by contacting a carbon-containing material gas with a catalyst at a high temperature and regulating the catalyst particles and the mixed gas composition, wherein a mixed gas of CO and/or CO2 and H is used as the material gas and a mixed oxide composition comprising one or more selected from oxide of Ni, Co, Mn and Cu and one or more selected from oxide of Mg, Ca, Al and Si is used as the catalyst particles.