TRADE ROUTES
This guide contains the best trade routes for each stage of the game. It offers no tips on general gameplay, story, ships, weapons, or locations, except when relevant.
The guide is divided in four sections, each corresponding to a narrative segment:
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Early Game, level 1-5. Trade routes are limited within the Liberty space.
-
First Middle Game, level 6-13. Trade routes include Bretonia and some accessible Border Worlds, like the Omega systems.
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Second Middle Game, level 14-29. Trade routes include Bretonia and Kusari space, along with all Border Worlds.
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Late Game, level 30+. Trade routes include the entire Sirius Sector, including Rheinland space and Liberty space.
In all cases, profit is calculated by using the largest freighter ship available to the player at that point in the game: the Rhino in the early game, the Clydesdale in the Middle Game, and the Dromedary from level 10 onward.
EARLY GAME: LIBERTY SPACE
These routes are available after mission 2. Use a Rhino freighter (80 units).
The Rhino is sold on Manhattan, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, and Pittsburgh.
LIBERTY CAPITALS TOUR: $74,000 per Round Trip
Planet Houston >
Texas; Liberty Police
Planet Los Angeles >
California; Liberty Police
Newark Station >
New York; Interspace
Planet Denver >
Colorado; Liberty Police
engine components
$374 per unit
beryllium
$120 per unit
polymers
$78 per unit
optronics
$308 per unit
Planet Los Angeles
California; Liberty Police
Newark Station
New York; Interspace
Planet Denver
Colorado; Liberty Police
Planet Houston
Texas; Liberty Police
FIRST MIDDLE GAME: BRETONIA & BORDER WORLDS
These routes are available after mission 4. Use a Clydesdale freighter (125 units).
The Clydesdale is sold on planets New London, Cambridge, and Leeds.
I recommend that you change ships in New London when the game tells you to:
this will make the Bounty Hunters Guild neutral, which will help in your trades.
LUCRATIVE BORDER RUN: $255,125 R/T
Solarius Station >
Omega-11; Daumann
Planet Leeds >
Leeds; Bretonia Police
dangerous route (Corsairs)
diamonds
$1056 per unit
artifacts
$985 per unit
Planet Leeds
Leeds; Bretonia Police
Leon Base
Omega-41; Corsairs
ALL-ENGLISH TOUR: $237,750 R/T
Sheffield Station >
Manchester; Police
Glasgow Outpost >
Leeds; Bowex
Waterloo Station >
New London; Interspace
Java Station >
Tau-23; IMG
Glasgow Outpost >
Leeds; Bowex
LD-14
Leeds; BMM
Planet New London
New London; Bretonia Police
Tau-31 Gate Construction Site
Tau-23; BMM
Stokes Mining Station
Leeds; BMM
Sheffield Station
Manchester; Bounty Hunters
boron
$360 per unit
optronics
$294 per unit
gate/lane parts
$700 per unit
niobium
$416 per unit
H-fuel
$132 per unit
ALIEN TRADE: $297,000 R/T *
Planet Leeds >
Leeds; Bretonia Police
Freeport 10 >
Tau-37; Zoners
Planet Cambridge >
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Freeport 10
Tau-37; Zoners
Cambridge Research Station
Cambridge; Cryer Pharma.
Planet Leeds
Leeds; Bretonia Police
construction machinery
$580 per unit
alien organisms *
$1400 per unit
diamonds
$396 per unit
perishable
actual profit is
20-25% less
OMICRON DARE: $280,375 R/T
Arranmore Base >
Dublin; Mollys
Planet Crete >
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Tripoli Shipyard
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Planet New London
New London; Bretonia Police
gold
$1258 per unit
artifacts
$985 per unit
dangerous route
(Corsairs, Mollys)
OMEGA DARE: $242,250 R/T
Sheffield Station >
Manchester; Bounty Hunters
Cadiz Base >
Omega-5; Corsairs
dangerous route (Corsairs)
Leon Base
Omega-41; Corsairs
Planet New London
New London; Bretonia Police
light arms
$980 per unit
artifacts
$958 per unit
OUTER SYSTEMS RUN: $156,375 R/T
Planet Cambridge >
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Falkland Base >
Tau-37; IMG
Trafalgar Base >
New London; Junkers
Falkland Base
Tau-37; IMG
Kensington Shipping Platform
New London; Gateway
Planet Cambridge
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
pharmaceuticals
$543 per unit
niobium
$528 per unit
luxury goods
$180 per unit
SECOND MIDDLE GAME: KUSARI SPACE
These routes are available after mission 7. Use a Dromedary freighter (275 units).
You can buy the Dromedary, the best freighter in the game, from Mactan Base
in the Magellan System. You must be neutral or friendly with the Lane Hackers.
KUSARI-BRETONIA LONG TOUR: $1,069,750 R/T
Planet Honshu >
Honshu; Kusari Police
Planet Crete >
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Battleship Hood >
Dublin; IMG
Planet Crete >
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Tripoli Shipyard
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Planet New London
New London; Bretonia Police
Tripoli Shipyard
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Planet New Tokyo
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
engine components
$1051 per unit
artifacts
$985 per unit
gold
$1206 per unit
artifacts
$648 per unit
dangerous
(Corsairs)
KUSARI-BRETONIA SHORT TOUR: $557,150 R/T
Narita Outpost >
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
Planet Cambridge >
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Battleship Hood >
Dublin; IMG
Planet Cambridge
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Battleship Hood
Dublin; IMG
Narita Outpost
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
optronics
$1119 per unit
consumer goods
$108 per unit
gold
$799 per unit
BORDER WORLDS RUN: $519,475 R/T
Planet Honshu >
Honshu; Kusari Police
Freistadt Base >
Omega-7; IMG
Freeport 5
Omega-41; Zoners
Planet Honshu
Honshu; Kusari Police
optronics
$1049 per unit
cobalt
$840 per unit
SMUGGLERS' QUICKIE: $269,500 R/T
Planet New Tokyo >
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
Ainu Depot >
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
Ainu Depot
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
Roppongi Station
New Tokyo; Interspace
luxury goods
$650 per unit
cardamine
$330 per unit
MISCELLANEOUS TRADE ROUTES
Solarius Station >
Omega-11; Daumann
Planet Honshu >
Honshu; Kusari Police
Sheffield Station >
Manchester; Bounty Hunters
Roppongi Station >
New Tokyo; Interspace
Naha Gas Miner >
Sigma-13; Gas Miners Guild
Deshima Station >
Shikoku; Bounty Hunters
Cardiff Mining Facility >
Cambridge; IMG
Planet New Tokyo
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
Arranmore Base
Dublin; Mollys
Freeport 4
Magellan; IMG
Planet Malta
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Planet Cambridge
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Planet Cambridge
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
Tripoli Shipyard
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Ruiz Base
Omicron Beta; Outcasts
Battleship Matsumoto
Hokkaido; Kusari Naval Forces
Tau-31 Gate Construction Site
Tau-23; BMM
Cadiz Base
Omega-5; Corsairs
Leon Base
Omega-41; Corsais
Narita Outpost
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
diamonds
$1431 per unit
engine components
$1350 per unit
engine components
$1274 per unit
engine components
$1199 per unit
engine components
$1125 per unit
optronics
$1189 per unit
optronics
$1119 per unit
optronics
$909 per unit
light arms
$850 per unit
gate/lane parts
$840 per unit
H-fuel
$770 per unit
light arms
$730 per unit
beryllium
$640 per unit
dangerous (Mollys)
dangerous
(Outcasts)
dangerous
(Corsairs)
dangerous
(Outcasts)
dangerous
(Corsairs)
dangerous (Corsairs)
LATE GAME: ENTIRE SIRIUS SECTOR
These routes are available after mission 7. Use a Dromedary freighter (275 units).
Alternatively, Rheinland's Humpback freighter has comparable cargo (250) but heavier weapon class (8 vs. 6). However, it is much slower and less maneuverable.
SIRIUS ROUNDABOUT "A": $1,816,375* R/T
Trenton Outpost >
New York; Universal Shipping
Java Station >
Tau-23; IMG
The Ring >
New Berlin; Daumann
Planet Malta >
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Freeport 9 >
Omicron Theta; Zoners
Planet Cambridge >
Cambridge; Bretonia Police
gate/lane parts
$1218 per unit
niobium
$1216 per unit
engine components
$1125 per unit
cardamine
$450 per unit
alien organisms*
$1500* per unit
luxury food*
$968* per unit
Tau-31 Gate Construction Site
Tau-23; BMM
Leipzig Station
Dresden; Daumann
Planet Malta
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Freeport 9
Omicron Theta; Zoners
Cambridge Research Station
Cambridge; Cryer Pharma.
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
take H-T alloy to New Berlin (+$128/unit)
perishable
actual profit is
about 3 to 5% less depending on traffic, etc.
SIRIUS ROUNDABOUT "B": $1,463,275 R/T
Planet New Berlin >
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
Solarius Station >
Omega-11; Daumann
Planet New London >
New London; Bretonia Police
Planet Manhattan >
New York; Liberty Police
Ainu Depot >
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
engine components
$974 per unit
diamonds
$1056 per unit
luxury food*
$948* per unit
luxury cons. goods
$1250 per unit
cardamine
$870 per unit
Freeport 5
Omega-41; Zoners
Planet Leeds
New London; Bretonia Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Ainu Depot
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
Planet New Berlin
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
take optronics to New London (+$223/unit)
perishable
actual profit is
about 5% less
QUICK ORE RUN: $599,775 R/T
Planet New Tokyo >
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
Planet New Berlin >
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
niobium
$928 per unit
diamonds
$1253 per unit
The Ring
New Berlin; Daumann
Planet New Tokyo
New Tokyo; Kusari Police
MISCELLANEOUS TRADE ROUTES: LEGAL
Falkland Base >
Tau-37; IMG
Detroit Munitions >
New York; Ageira Tech
Arranmore Base >
Dublin; Mollys
Planet Los Angeles >
California; Liberty Police
Cardiff Mining Facility >
Cambridge; IMG
Planet Holstein >
Frankfurt; Daumann
niobium
$1440 per unit
light arms
$1260 per unit
light arms
$1190 per unit
light arms
$980 per unit
gold
$1003 per unit
luxury cons. goods
$1224 per unit
luxury cons. goods
$1044 per unit
luxury cons. goods
$1044 per unit
beryllium
$1056 per unit
boron
$852 per unit
Leipzig Station
Dresden; Daumann
Planet Malta
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Planet Crete
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Battleship Matsumoto
Hokkaido; Kusari Navy
Alster Shipyard
Hamburg; Republican Shipping
Ainu Depot
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
Planet Baden Baden
Stuttgart; Orbital Spa
Luxury Liner Hawaii
Sigma-19; Orbital Spa
The Ring
New Berlin; Daumann
LD-14
Leeds; BMM
MISCELLANEOUS TRADE ROUTES: ILLEGAL
Planet Malta >
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Cali Base >
Tau-23; Outcasts
Ainu Depot >
Hokkaido; Golden Chrysanth.
Yanagi Depot >
Sigma-13; Junkers
Planet Crete >
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
Freeport 9 >
Omicron Theta; Zoners
Luxury Liner Hawaii >
Sigma-19; Orbital Spa
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet New Berlin
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet New Berlin
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet New Berlin
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet New Berlin
New Berlin; Rheinland Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
Planet Manhattan
New York; Liberty Police
cardamine
$1200 per unit
cardamine
$1050 per unit
cardamine
$1150 per unit
cardamine
$960 per unit
cardamine
$1020 per unit
cardamine
$870 per unit
cardamine
$990 per unit
cardamine
$840 per unit
artifacts
$1120 per unit
artifacts
$1093 per unit
artifacts
$918 per unit
MISCELLANEOUS TRADE ROUTES: PERISHABLE
Ruiz Base >
Omicron Beta; Outcasts
Planet Kurile >
Sigma-17
Freeport 10 >
Tau-37; Zoners
Planet New London >
New London; Bretonia Police
Luxury Liner Shetland >
Edinburgh; Orbital Spa
LD-14 >
Leeds; BMM
alien organisms
$1760* per unit
alien organisms
$1240* per unit
alien organisms
$1240* per unit
luxury food
$1408* per unit
luxury food
$1280* per unit
MOX
$888* per unit
MOX
$888* per unit
Cambridge Research Station
Cambridge; Cryer Pharma.
Cambridge Research Station
Cambridge; Cryer Pharma.
Cambridge Research Station
Cambridge; Cryer Pharma.
Luxury Liner Hawaii
Sigma-19; Orbital Spa
Luxury Liner Hawaii
Sigma-19; Orbital Spa
Planet Malta
Omicron Alpha; Outcasts
Tripoli Shipyard
Omicron Gamma; Corsairs
can also sell in California System
(Willard Research Station or Planet California Minor)
at about $100 less
can also sell on Planets Manhattan, Denver, or Honshu at $200-300 less