South Korean conglomerate Lotte Group projects it will take a massive financial hit over its cooperation in the deployment of a U.S. missile defense system.

The company estimates it will lose more than one trillion won, or 875 million U.S. dollars, in sales in the first half of this year because of China's opposition to the system, known as THAAD. Lotte estimated it lost 250 billion won in sales in March alone.

The March loss factors in sales at Lotte Mart stores in China, exports to China by Lotte food affiliates, and a drop in Lotte Duty Free revenue affected by Beijing's ban on tour groups to South Korea.

Of the 99 Lotte Mart stores across China, 87 have been forced to close by Chinese authorities or have voluntarily shut down in the face of boycott by Chinese consumers.

Those still open report very few customers.

Lotte agreed to provide a site in North Gyeongsang Province for the placement of the missile defense battery in a land swap deal with the Defense Ministry earlier this year. China fears the device's powerful radar will be used by the U.S. to spy on its own military.