Newcomer / Intro Mission help - can't find aluminum

[Krighten]

So I accepted my first trade mission, to go out and buy (at least from what I can gather) 4 aluminum and bring it back but I cant find any anywhere. I've checked every system I have data on and none of the imports or exports are aluminum. What do I do here?

 

[carlisle]

So I accepted my first trade mission, to go out and buy (at least from what I can gather) 4 aluminum and bring it back but I cant find any anywhere. I've checked every system I have data on and none of the imports or exports are aluminum. What do I do here?

Try displaying trade routes on the galactic map, and also economy types. If you're lucky you can find a trade route for Aluminium which you can trace back to its source, or at least you can pick out all the refinery economies that might be producing it.

 

[mattensky]

Hui mines has High Supply if you are near by . . . if you check the system views and see which stations have 'extraction/refinery' economies - they usually have it . . .

 

[Krighten]

So is there no actual way to see if a system has aluminum other than making the best possible guess and flying there?

 

[PocketWettie]

Pretty much.

I know the Pilots guide has some templates you can print off to record station/system names and the stuff they keep on hand. Lots of effort but I guess int he end could potentially be worth it. That or screen shots to look at later, tagged by resource or system name...

 

[Legionnaire]

go into Galaxy Map, Select View, then Map, go down to Trade routes, and uncheck those you dont need, then look for the animated arrows on the map, arrows leaving is a supply, arrows pointing to is a demand. however sometimes there just isnt a supply near you. If you are anywhere near Ciguru that system sells metals and Minerals from Hui Mines as was mentioned previously.

 

[Faerie]

You need to find a "Refinery" system, chances are they'll have aluminium.
Extraction sites produce ores from which metals are made. Refineries produce metal from the ores. Industrial sites use the metal to make other stuff. Agricultural sites feed all the above.
Just because any given commodity isn't shown on the map as a system's export doesn't mean it doesn't export it - it means there's a limited amount of space so only the most economically important commodities are displayed. Lateral thinking is your best friend in this game.