Trading
Until recently trading was just about the only way to make money. Although there are now other options, trading cargo widgets is still the most profitable means of acquiring your own personal fortune. The basics of trading is a simple concept. You buy cargo at a low price and sell it someplace else for a higher price. Easier said than done. Discovering a good route can be a long process, but the rewards are well worth it. One simple way is to load your ship up with as many single cargo widgets as you can fit. Ships like the Centaur can hold up to 48 different types of cargo allowing you to carry many types of cargo. Don't give up if you don't find a good route right away.
So You Have A Route
Now that you have a route its time to exploit it and get as much money as you can from it. If you already have a decent amount of money (100,000cr at least) do NOT sell your cargo. Instead hit "Unload All" to leave all your cargo in the station without selling it. This is called stockpiling and is the best way to get the most from your route. If possible, try to find a profitable widget from station B to bring back to station A to gain more money. After amassing a large amount of cargo in the stations, sell them. Or, if you have money to spare, let it sit and wait for the price to rise. Be warned, other people can and most likely will find your route and sell before you do, so only wait if you are willing to go without the income for a bit.
Tips
- Mining and trading can go along very well together. For instance if you mine a rare type of ore and stockpile it in a close by station, you can transport it to another station a few systems away to make an even bigger profit. Few if anybody does this, and the result is that stations nearby the rare ore often does not sell very well.
- The news can often help you find a good route. By giving you a list of what that particular station needs you can plan ahead, keep a mental list or one on paper is better, and keep an eye out for the cargo a station needs.
- Someone has made a handy dandy site that lets you match up two stations and shows you their differences in trade goods. You can find it right around here.
Ships To Carry Your Cargo In
| Ship | Wraith | Atlas | Centaur | Marauder | Behemoth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo | 22 | 32 | 48 | 48 | 120 |
| Turbo | 180 | 180 | 200 | 200 | 180 |
| Weapons | 2S 1L | 1S 1L | 1S 2L | 3S | 2L |
| Level | Trade 1 | Trade 2 | 1/-/3/4/- | Trade 8 | -/-/-/8/4 |
(s)= Small Port (l)= Large Port
Ships listed are the basic versions. See the ships list for full information.
- The Wraith is the perfect entry level trading ship. Enough weapons ports to keep you safe from Hive ships, and enough cargo room to get you through the basic trade missions.
- The Atlas is a decent trading ship, but once you have a Centaur you can pretty much ignore this one. It is fast and has plenty of cargo room. But often is easy prey for pirates.
- The Centaur slow and hard to move this ship has often been ignored by traders with access to the Marauder, but it does its job very well, and that job is to move large amounts of cargo in one go. The Centaur has the ability to carry two sets of mines, enough to send any pirate to their grave.
- The Marauder is the fastest cargo transport ship in the game. Its TPG variant can carry up to 48 cargo widgets, and the Tunguska 60. Although all but the Tunguska version lack L port weapons it can still fend for its self or simply speed by any pirate blockade.
- The Behemoth is yet another win for the TPG corporation. When you need to move large amounts of cargo(120cu), the Behemoth is your ship.
List of Trade Goods
This is a (hopefully complete) list of the various trade goods that can be found within the game. There is another table which sorts the trade goods by the "type of good", which contains pictures for all of the trade goods.
| Trade Good | Description | Class of Goods |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Logistics System | Controllers for ship systems | Ship Component |
| Advanced Targeting Systems | Advanced weapon targeting computers | Weapon Component |
| Aeolus Pilot Training Unit | Training for pilots | Creature Comfort |
| Agricultural Research Supplies | Assorted chemicals and other consumables for research | |
| Airlock Maintenance Supplies | For general up keep of the station | |
| Amplification Module | Component of many electronics | |
| Apicene Ore | A rare asteroid composition formed only at very high temperatures | Ore |
| Aquean Ore | Dirty ice, mostly H2O with trace chemicals | Ore |
| Basic Research Supplies | Assorted assay bottles, spot well plates and pipettes | |
| Basic Robotic Equipment | Simple robots | |
| Basic Targeting Systems | Simple and efficient weapon targeting systems | Weapon Component |
| Bearing Grease | Keeps machinery working smoothly | |
| Betheshee Spices | Extremely aromatic spices and herbs preferred by most Serco | |
| BioCom Implants | Components for cybernetic implants | |
| Biomedical Nanites | Used in common medical treatments | |
| Biotechnology Research Supplies | Assorted chemicals and other consumables for research | |
| Carbonic Ore | Ore which is heavy in carbon compounds | Ore |
| Chemical Spill Kit | Used to clean of chemical spills | |
| Civilian Textiles | Clothing for every-day wear | Creature Comfort |
| Combat Simulators | Training for pilots | |
| Commercial Textiles | Industrial grade fabric for use in various applications | |
| Consumer Electronics | Electronic audio/visual/neural entertainment products | Creature Comfort |
| Consumer Robotics | Personal robotic assistant devices | Creature Comfort |
| Cooking Supplies | Collection of pots, pans and other cooking utensils | |
| Coolant | Used in cooling systems | |
| Cooling Systems | Weapon cooling systems | Weapon Component |
| Corrosive Chemicals | Industrial chemicals with corrosive properties | Industrial Goods |
| Corvus Holo Disks | Used in cooling systems | |
| Corvus Textiles | Take exotic vacations | |
| Cybernetics Grade AA | Premium Grade Materials for implants | |
| Cybernetics Grade BB | Common grade cybernetics | |
| Cybernetics Grade EE | Industrial grade cybernetics for implants | |
| Data Link Connectors | Component of many electronics | |
| Dau Spices | A mixture of herbs often used to season food standard rations. | |
| Dau Wine | A fine wine from the UIT | |
| Deneb Rum | An inexpensive intoxicant sold at most station bars | |
| Denic Ore | Rare ore found often in young solar systems | Ore |
| Dyes | Common dyes and pigments | Production Goods |
| EC-Class Ships Repair Manual | Instructions for repair of ships for pilots on a small budget | |
| Emergency Repair Kit | Standard kit with parts for basic ship repairs | |
| Energy Conversation Module | Components of various ship systems | |
| Engine Mounts | Holds engines in place | |
| ERS Tracking Systems | Standard missile tracking computer | Weapon Component |
| Escape Hatch System | For escaping | |
| Exhaust Manifold | Directs engine exhaust | |
| External Equipment Mounts | For holding equipment | |
| External Thermal Couplers | Controllers for ship systems | |
| Extravehicular Suits | Protective suits for work done outside of a station | |
| Ferric Ore | Ore composed mostly of iron | Ore |
| Fine China | Rare antique plates | |
| Fine Furniture | Crafted from the finest synthwoods | |
| Fire-suppression system | Fire protection systems for ships and stations | |
| Fitness Equipment | Required for military training | |
| Flight Assist Control Module | Found in most ships | |
| Food | Mass-produced nutritional food | Creature Comfort |
| Frequency Modulators | Component of many electronics | |
| Fresh Flowers | Fresh flowers cultivated in stations with specialized gardens | |
| Fuel Flow Regulator | Component of ship turbo systems | |
| Fuel Storage Container | Component of ship turbo systems | |
| Guided Missle Casings | Empty tubes for weapons | |
| Gyroscopes | Used in weapon and ship construction | |
| Heliocene Ore | Rare ore formed under intense heat and tidal forces | Ore |
| Holo Disks | Visit popular vacation destinations without ever having to leave the station | |
| Hull Panels | Basic paneling used in the construction of ships | |
| Hydraulic Tappets | Components of various ship systems | |
| Hydrogen Ion Collector | Used in weapon and ship construction | |
| Industrial research Supplies | Assorted chemicals and other consumables for research | |
| Inert Chemicals | Industrial chemicals with no dangerous properties. | Industrial Goods |
| Ineubis Automated Defense Unit | For personal safety | |
| Ineubis Personal Defense Systems | Regarded as the best in the universe | |
| Instrumentation Panel | Commonly found in most ships | |
| Ion Core | Primary component of most ion weapons | Weapon Component |
| Ishik Ore | A common asteroid composition containing lighter elements and chemical compounds | Ore |
| Itani Education Disk Level M | Standard educational program used by most Itani children | |
| Itani Education Disk Level N | Standard educational program used by most Itani children | |
| Itani Education Disk Level O | Standard educational program used by most Itani children | |
| Janitorial Supplies | Specialized tools for station maintenance | |
| Lanthanic Ore | Ore containing heavy and radioactive metals | Ore |
| Life Support System | Commonly found in most ships | |
| Luxury Goods | Jewelry, artwork, rare spices, etc. | Creature Comfort |
| Magnetometer | Component of various mining beams | |
| Manufacturing Tools | Common tools used in heavy manufacturing | Production Goods |
| Medical Supplies | First-aid supplies | Creature Comfort |
| Meditation Crystals | Used by the Itani as part of meditation rituals | |
| Mentana Sweets | A secret recipe prized throughout the universe | |
| MicroTech Replicator | Conostructs many prefab products using nanotechnology | Production Goods |
| Military Research Supplies | Assorted chemicals and other consumables for research | |
| Mineral Assay Equipment | Needed for basic research | |
| Nanite Modulators | Used in nanite manufacturing | |
| Nanite Replicator | Controls the replication of nanites for microtech replicator | |
| NanoFeed | Mostly carbon, a powder used for nanite replication | Production Goods |
| NanoPigments | Dyes and pigments which can be instructed to change their color | Production Goods |
| Navigation Unit | Controllers for ship systems | |
| Neural Nodule | Component of many cybernetics | |
| Optics | Frequently used in weapon manufacturing | |
| Organic Solvents | Super-corrosive organically-produced solvents | Industrial Goods |
| Orion Drill Bits | Component of various mining beams | |
| Orion Extractor Component | Component of various mining beams | |
| Outer Hull Plate | Used in the production of most ships | |
| Oxygen Recycling System | Compact air purifier and oxygen recycling system | Ship Component |
| Pelatus Spices | Sweet spices often used in desserts | |
| Pentric Ore | A rare asteroid composition of complex chemical material | Ore |
| Personal Defense Systems | Small arms and other personal defense devices | Creature Comforts |
| Pharmaceuticals | Used in common medical treatments | |
| Phase Array | Modulates the phase of energy weapon projectiles | Weapon Component |
| Phernoa Spices | A spicy mixture of dried peppers amd herbs | |
| Pilot Safety Harness | For the safety of the pilot | |
| Plasma Core | Primary component of most plasma weapons | Weapon Component |
| Plasteel | Light plastic compound with the strength of steel | Industrial Goods |
| Power Regulators | Power flow regulators, used in most energy weapons | Weapon Component |
| Precious Metals | Extracted in small quantities from other ores | Ore |
| Pressure Relief Valves | Primary component of oxygen generation systems | |
| Propellant Actuators | Component of turbo systems | |
| Protective Outerwear | Specialized clothing for work with hazardous materials | |
| Purified Water | Purified water, safe for drinking | Creature Comfort |
| Pyronic Ore | Rare ore found in the residue of a star’s collapse | Ore |
| Quantitative Analysis Equipment | Needed for basic research | |
| Radiation Containment Kit | Used to to safely store radioactive materials | |
| Rare Books | Now considered obsolete, these printed materials are sought by collectors | |
| Recycled Plastic | Pellets of recycled plastic ready to be reprocessed | |
| Refugee Support Kit | Basic supplies for war refugees | |
| Replacement Hydraulic Fluid | Replacement hydraulic fluid | |
| Scanner Circuit Boards | Component of many electronics | |
| Serco Ale | A strong alcoholic brew preferred by the Serco Military | Creature Comfort |
| Serco Cybernetic Implants | Assorted Cybernetic Arms and Legs | |
| Sedina Chocolates | A secret recipe prized throughout the universe | |
| Ship Paint | Covers up those unsightly scratches | |
| Silicate Ore | Unrefined silicate material | Ore |
| Silksteel | Incredibly strong steel alloy | Industrial Goods |
| Simple Plastics | Common manufacturing materials | Production Goods |
| Solid Explosives | Component of missles | |
| Solid Fuel Packs | Component of missles | |
| Stabilizing Systems | Weapon stabilizers, increase precision by reducing recoil | Weapon Component |
| Station Conduit | Basic conduit for wires, pipes and other materials | |
| Steel | A durable but heavy building material | Production Goods |
| SynthWood | Synthetic wood, common construction material | Production Goods |
| Superconductors | Component of many electronics | |
| Surveillance Equipment | Station security equipment | |
| Synthetic Gems | Used to in jewelry and art | |
| Synthetic Hydrocarbons | Common building blocks for many industrial applications | Production Goods |
| Textured Vegetable Protein | While extremely stable and ideal for long spaceflights, is has no flavor. | |
| Thermal Imagers | Component of various mineral scanners | |
| Thermal Insulator Tiles | Provides protection for the outer layer of many ships | |
| Thrust Regulators | Component of ship turbo systems | |
| TPG Pilot Training Module | Developed for TPG pilots | |
| Tunguska Mining Module | Component of various mining beams | |
| Turbo Charger | Component of ship turbo systems | |
| Unassembled Cargo Crates | Empty cargo crates | |
| Valent Robotic Components | Frequently used in weapon manufacturing | |
| VanAzek Ore | A common asteroid composition containing heavy and radioactive metals | Ore |
| Versai Koffee | A modern interpretation of the coffee of Sol I. | |
| Versai Speciality Foods | So good you'll lick your fingers. | |
| Vismetal | As strong as steel, but clear as glass | Production Goods |
| Vismetal Cockpit | Clear yet durable and able to withstand the pressures of space | |
| Volatile Chemicals | Industrial chemicals with volatile properties | Industrial Goods |
| Waste Treatment Chemicals | Used to process common station wastes | |
| Xang Xi Advanced Robotics | Equipment used in cargo loading and unloading | |
| Xang Xi Waste Container | Standard holding container for station wastes | |
| XiRite Alloy | Extremely durable alloy made primarily from iron and xithricite | Production Goods |
| Xithricite Ore | Ore containing the precious mineral Xithricite | Ore |