The BK Birla group outfit, Jay Shree Tea and Industries Ltd, expects a four per cent hit on its profit margins this year owing to the loss of production in Darjeeling.

Darjeeling tea accounts for 3.5-4 per cent of its total sales in value terms, said D. P. Maheshwari, Managing Director, Jay Shree Tea.

“Darjeeling is in the doldrums now; though we do not see a significant impact of this ongoing agitation on our sales as our exposure is about 3.5-4 per cent, but the industry as a whole is in real problem,” he told newspersons after the company’s annual general meeting here on Monday.