COFCO Tunhe losses at more than 700m yuan

COFCO Tunhe Co Ltd, a major supplier of ketchup, estimated that its losses were between 700 million yuan ($112.54 million) and 770 million yuan in 2012.

According to an announcement from the company on Tuesday, a global oversupply of ketchup and the high sugar prices were the reasons behind the loss.

Four of the company's plants suspended operations due to a raw material shortage stemming from the unfavorable weather in 2012.

Analysts said that total export demand for ketchup will reach 900,000 tons, higher than the total supply, and thus ketchup prices will likely be above the cost of $900 per ton.