A process of producing a zinc or zinc alloy powder (4) for batteries which comprises dropping molten zinc or a molten zinc alloy to form a molten metal droplets stream (1) and striking an atomizing medium jet (3) emitted from a nozzle (2) against the molten metal stream (1) at right angles to atomize the molten zinc or the molten zinc alloy, wherein two or more the nozzles are arranged in parallel to each other, the orifice of each of the nozzles has a V-shaped, U-shaped, X-shaped or arc-shaped cross-section, the atomizing medium is air or an inert gas, two or more the molten metal streams have at least two different flow rates selected from a range 0.04 to 0.25 kg/sec, and two or more the atomizing medium jets have at least two different atomizing pressures selected from a range 4 to 9 kg/cm2.