A process for producing a carbon article, which comprises molding a precursor article under heat from a heat-moldable resin composition at least containing a granular or powdery resin resulting from the condensation of a phenol, an aldehyde and optionally a nitrogen-containing compound having at least two active hydrogens, said resin being characterized by (A) containing spherical primary particles and their agglomerated secondary particles, each of which has a particle diameter in the range of 0.1 to 150 microns, (B) having such a size that at least 50% by weight thereof can pass through a 100 Tyler mesh sieve, and (C) having a free phenol content, determined by liquid chromatography, of not more than 500 ppm, or from a heat-moldable species of said resin alone, and thereafter carbonizing the precursor article.