To provide a method which can produce reduced iron at high productivity by using a rotary hearth furnace, and to provide an apparatus therefor.

In the method for producing the reduced iron by burning mixed raw material of powdery ore and powdery coal in the rotary hearth furnace, the mixed raw material is charged from raw material charging devices 2-1-2-5 arranged at plural positions with interval along the shifting direction of the furnace hearth while rotating the furnace hearth (rotary hearth 1) and burnt. Plural mixed material layers are formed while forming the new mixed raw material layer and burnt. This method can easily be performed with this apparatus having plural raw material charging devices arranged with the interval.