The present invention relates to a composite of vapor grown carbon fiber and inorganic fine particles comprising vapor grown carbon fiber, each fiber filament of the carbon fiber having a structure with hollow space extending along its axis, a diameter of 0.001 to 1 μm and an aspect ratio of 5 to 15,000; and inorganic fine particles having a particle size of 0.0001 to 5 μm, the particles being deposited onto the surface of the carbon fiber, wherein the ratio of the average diameter of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the average particle size of the inorganic fine particles is 1 0.01 to 1:5; the ratio by mass of the vapor grown carbon fiber to the inorganic fine particles is 1:0.005 to 1:50; and the carbon crystal structure of the carbon fiber is maintained and the surface characteristics are modified.