The present invention provides a method for efficiently producing an intermetallic compound porous material. Specifically, the invention provides a porous material production method comprising molding a mixed powder of at least two inorganic powders and performing a combustion synthesis reaction of the resulting molded mixed powder; wherein (1) the porous material contains an intermetallic compound, (2) the intermetallic compound has a three-dimensional network skeletal structure, and (3) the porous material has a relative density of not more than about 80%.