Zhuzhou Smelter Group Co., China’s largest zinc smelter, plans to gradually resume production after the Lunar New Year holiday ends in about two weeks, restoring output halted by a lack of power. Storms buffeting central China, including Hunan province, are the worst in decades and have disrupted transport, caused blackouts and forced metals plants to halt or reduce output. The Lunar New Year holiday, one of the most significant annual breaks in China, starts on 6 February and will last until 12 February. The company, which halted output 29 January, will need time to return to full capacity, Spokesman Yu said. Zhuzhou’s shutdown of all its zinc and lead plants could mean a daily production loss of 1000tns of zinc and 270tns of lead, said Feng Juncong, an analyst at Beijing Antaike Information Development Co. Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co. has cut output as inventories rose because the snowstorms delayed railway deliveries of its products. The nation’s biggest stainless steel producer aims to produce 150,000tns of the rust-proof metal in February, compared with capacity of 250,000tns. Hunan Valin Steel Tube & Wire Co., partly owned by the world’s largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal, also said that it has reduced production after the snows curbed power supplies.