In a wet paper web transfer belt, the wet paper web side layer is formed by a high molecular weight elastic section containing porous bodies which are exposed at, or protrude from the web-contacting surface. The porous bodies are anchored in the resin and wear at about the same rate way as the surrounding resin. Therefore, the distribution of the porous bodies does not vary significantly as a result of abrasion. This transfer belt can transport an attached wet paper web, and release the web smoothly to a next stage in the papermaking process, over a long period of use.