The purpose of the present invention is to provide an indirect heat drying method and a refined-coal production method, with which the stability of carrier-gas pressure balance can be improved when using indirect heat dryers to dry particulate matter. This indirect heat drying method for particulate matter uses two indirect heat dryers, and is provided with: a step (A) in which particulate matter is dried in a first indirect heat dryer; and a step (B) in which the particulate matter is further dried in a second indirect heat dryer to obtain dried particulate matter. The indirect heat drying method for particulate matter is characterized by being further provided with a step (C) in which first microparticles included in a carrier gas discharged from the first indirect heat dryer are recovered and mixed with the particulate matter supplied to step (B); and a step (D) in which second microparticles included in a carrier gas discharged from the second indirect heat dryer are recovered and mixed with the dried particulate matter obtained in step (B).