Trading is a simple business.
But low from the producer and sell high where there is demand.
In a series of market guides I'm going run through the various commodities and outline the principles of their trading.
This is intended to be a general guide but I'll use examples from Standard Beta to highlight good practice and potential pitfalls.
All prices, supply and demand, are subject to market forces and unexpected events.
Minerals trading is one of the simplest markets in the game.
Minerals are raw materials that typically require refining to isolate their most useful base elements, usually metals.
Producers: Extraction Sites
Consumers: Refineries, High-Tech for selected minerals.
The key to minerals trading is nearby Refinery Sites:
In SB:
Acihaut*
Dahan
LFT 880
Ross 1051
LHS 2887*
Surya*
Note: *Extraction and Refining is a cross-over business. Some systems have achieved vertical integration and are refining materials on-site. This impacts the availability, prices, supply, and demand, for certain materials.
Bauxite:
The source material for Aluminium, Bauxite is a low price, high margin mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at all Refining locations.
Major Producers: LP 64-194, LHS 2884, Ithaca, LP 98-132
Typical Buy: 25
Typical Sell: 115
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Bertrandite:
The source material for Beryllium, Bertrandite is a high-price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: LHS 5287, LHS 3006, G239-25, LP 64-194, Acihaut
Typical Buy: 1870
Typical Sell: 2600
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut.
Coltan:
The source material for Tantalum, Coltan is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, with limited extraction sites, and in demand at all Refining locations.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, LP 64-194, LP 98-132
Typical Buy: 950
Typical Sell: 1495
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Gallite:
The source material for Gallium, Gallite is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations and all High-Tech systems.
Major Producers: LHS 5287, G 239-45, Acihaut, Morgor
Typical Buy: 1380
Typical Sell: 2050
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut, All High Tech
Indite:
The source material for Indium, Indite is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, Dahan
Typical Buy: 1620
Typical Sell: 2345
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Dahan
Lepidolite:
The source material for Lithium, Lepidolite is a medium price mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: Acihaut, Morgor, LHS 3006, Ross 1015, G 239-25
Typical Buy: 325
Typical Sell: 620
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut
Rutile:
The source material for Titanium and with interesting Optical properties, Rutile is a low price, medium margin mineral, with limited extraction sites, in demand at all Refinery and High Tech sites.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, LHS 2884, LP 64-194, CM Draco
Typical Buy: 140
Typical Sell: 325
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites, All High Tech
Uraninite:
The source material for Uranium, Uraninite is a medium price mineral, with limited extraction sites, in demand at all Refinery locations.
Major Producers: LHS 2884, Ithaca
Typical Buy: 560
Typical Sell: 960
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Extraction Sites Best Practice:
Extraction Sites are typically low population, frequently have low legal enforcement, and typically do not produce any of their own material needs.
Be aware of the jurisdiction and plan your trip appropriately.
Typical Imports:
Food, Medicines, Mineral Extractors, Explosives, Weapons, Consumer Goods
Export Route Planning:
Locate the nearest Refinery Site.
But low from the producer and sell high where there is demand.
In a series of market guides I'm going run through the various commodities and outline the principles of their trading.
This is intended to be a general guide but I'll use examples from Standard Beta to highlight good practice and potential pitfalls.
All prices, supply and demand, are subject to market forces and unexpected events.
Minerals trading is one of the simplest markets in the game.
Minerals are raw materials that typically require refining to isolate their most useful base elements, usually metals.
Producers: Extraction Sites
Consumers: Refineries, High-Tech for selected minerals.
The key to minerals trading is nearby Refinery Sites:
In SB:
Acihaut*
Dahan
LFT 880
Ross 1051
LHS 2887*
Surya*
Note: *Extraction and Refining is a cross-over business. Some systems have achieved vertical integration and are refining materials on-site. This impacts the availability, prices, supply, and demand, for certain materials.
Bauxite:
The source material for Aluminium, Bauxite is a low price, high margin mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at all Refining locations.
Major Producers: LP 64-194, LHS 2884, Ithaca, LP 98-132
Typical Buy: 25
Typical Sell: 115
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Bertrandite:
The source material for Beryllium, Bertrandite is a high-price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: LHS 5287, LHS 3006, G239-25, LP 64-194, Acihaut
Typical Buy: 1870
Typical Sell: 2600
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut.
Coltan:
The source material for Tantalum, Coltan is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, with limited extraction sites, and in demand at all Refining locations.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, LP 64-194, LP 98-132
Typical Buy: 950
Typical Sell: 1495
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Gallite:
The source material for Gallium, Gallite is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations and all High-Tech systems.
Major Producers: LHS 5287, G 239-45, Acihaut, Morgor
Typical Buy: 1380
Typical Sell: 2050
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut, All High Tech
Indite:
The source material for Indium, Indite is a high price, large profit per unit mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, Dahan
Typical Buy: 1620
Typical Sell: 2345
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Dahan
Lepidolite:
The source material for Lithium, Lepidolite is a medium price mineral, extracted in many systems, and in demand at most Refining locations.
Major Producers: Acihaut, Morgor, LHS 3006, Ross 1015, G 239-25
Typical Buy: 325
Typical Sell: 620
Major Consumers: Refinery Sites except Acihaut
Rutile:
The source material for Titanium and with interesting Optical properties, Rutile is a low price, medium margin mineral, with limited extraction sites, in demand at all Refinery and High Tech sites.
Major Producers: Ithaca, LHS 417, LHS 2884, LP 64-194, CM Draco
Typical Buy: 140
Typical Sell: 325
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites, All High Tech
Uraninite:
The source material for Uranium, Uraninite is a medium price mineral, with limited extraction sites, in demand at all Refinery locations.
Major Producers: LHS 2884, Ithaca
Typical Buy: 560
Typical Sell: 960
Major Consumers: All Refinery Sites
Extraction Sites Best Practice:
Extraction Sites are typically low population, frequently have low legal enforcement, and typically do not produce any of their own material needs.
Be aware of the jurisdiction and plan your trip appropriately.
Typical Imports:
Food, Medicines, Mineral Extractors, Explosives, Weapons, Consumer Goods
Export Route Planning:
Locate the nearest Refinery Site.
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