Trade Goods For Profit
Compare supply and demand, calculate total route costs, and reserve credits for repairs.
Choose Cargo Within Capacity
Ports trade ore, metal, water, food, energy cells, medicine, crystals, luxury goods, weapons, contraband, and other cargo.
Each location has separate stock. Buying reduces local stock, while selling increases it.
Every item uses cargo capacity. Installed cargo modules and all module penalties determine how much your ship can carry.
Calculate The Trade Margin
Prices respond to local stock, natural production, import demand, region, item value, and danger.
Producing locations often offer better purchase prices, while locations with import demand often pay more. For example, inexpensive ore may sell for more at an industrial port where it is in demand.
Remote and dangerous routes may offer greater profit. Subtract travel and likely repair costs, and account for risk, before choosing a route.
Earn Trade Experience
A profitable sale of goods or resources transported from another port earns trade experience. Purchase price and origin are tracked, so selling at the purchase port or at a loss earns no trade XP.
Profit and transported volume both affect the reward. Trade XP is capped within each 15-minute tick to keep trading progression comparable with combat and prevent rapid resale from producing excessive XP.
Cargo acquired before purchase tracking began can still be sold normally, but it earns no trade experience.
Allow Markets To Recover
Over time, each tick moves market stock and prices toward their usual local values.
Repeatedly emptying a market or selling the same cargo there can reduce your margin. Compare prices at multiple ports.
Contraband and luxury goods may provide high returns, but valuable cargo can attract attacks. Use a suitable ship and plan how to reach safety.