A method of producing a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, comprising: a mixing step of obtaining a tungsten-containing mixture of: - a lithium-metal composite oxide powder represented by a general formula: Li z Ni 1-x-y Co x M y O 2 where 0 < x ≤ 0.35, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.35, and 0.95 ≤ z ≤ 1.30 are satisfied, and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al and having a layered crystal structure constituted by primary particles and secondary particles formed by aggregation of the primary particles; - 3 to 15 mass% of water with respect to the lithium-metal composite oxide powder; and - a tungsten compound or a tungsten compound and a lithium compound, the tungsten-containing mixture having a molar ratio of a total amount of lithium contained in the water and the tungsten compound as a solid component with respect to an amound of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5, or of lithium contained in the water, and the tungsten compound and the lithium compound as a solid component with respect to an amount of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5; whereby an amount of tungsten contained in the tungsten-containing mixture is adjusted to 0.05 to 2.0 at% with respect to the total number of atoms of Ni, Co, and M contained in the lithium-metal composite oxide powder and a heat treatment step of heating the obtained tungsten-containing mixture to form lithium tungstate on a surface of the primary particles of the lithium-metal composite oxide. a mixing step of obtaining a tungsten-containing mixture of: - a lithium-metal composite oxide powder represented by a general formula: Li z Ni 1-x-y Co x M y O 2 where 0 < x ≤ 0.35, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.35, and 0.95 ≤ z ≤ 1.30 are satisfied, and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al and having a layered crystal structure constituted by primary particles and secondary particles formed by aggregation of the primary particles; - 3 to 15 mass% of water with respect to the lithium-metal composite oxide powder; and - a tungsten compound or a tungsten compound and a lithium compound, the tungsten-containing mixture having a molar ratio of a total amount of lithium contained in the water and the tungsten compound as a solid component with respect to an amound of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5, or of lithium contained in the water, and the tungsten compound and the lithium compound as a solid component with respect to an amount of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5; whereby an amount of tungsten contained in the tungsten-containing mixture is adjusted to 0.05 to 2.0 at% with respect to the total number of atoms of Ni, Co, and M contained in the lithium-metal composite oxide powder and - a lithium-metal composite oxide powder represented by a general formula: Li z Ni 1-x-y Co x M y O 2 where 0 < x ≤ 0.35, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.35, and 0.95 ≤ z ≤ 1.30 are satisfied, and M is at least one element selected from Mn, V, Mg, Mo, Nb, Ti, and Al and having a layered crystal structure constituted by primary particles and secondary particles formed by aggregation of the primary particles; - 3 to 15 mass% of water with respect to the lithium-metal composite oxide powder; and - a tungsten compound or a tungsten compound and a lithium compound, the tungsten-containing mixture having a molar ratio of a total amount of lithium contained in the water and the tungsten compound as a solid component with respect to an amound of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5, or of lithium contained in the water, and the tungsten compound and the lithium compound as a solid component with respect to an amount of tungsten contained therein of a molar ratio of 3 to 5; whereby an amount of tungsten contained in the tungsten-containing mixture is adjusted to 0.05 to 2.0 at% with respect to the total number of atoms of Ni, Co, and M contained in the lithium-metal composite oxide powder and a heat treatment step of heating the obtained tungsten-containing mixture to form lithium tungstate on a surface of the primary particles of the lithium-metal composite oxide.