Trading Guide
Making money in ECON Galaxy comes down to one principle: buy low, sell high. Here's how to do it.
The Basics
Every station has a market where you can buy and sell commodities. Prices are determined by supply and demand:
- High supply, low demand = Low prices (good for buying)
- Low supply, high demand = High prices (good for selling)
Your goal: Find stations where something is cheap, buy it, fly somewhere it's expensive, sell it.
Market Orders
There are two ways to trade:
Quick Trade
Instant buy/sell at current market prices. Simple and fast.
- Dock at a station
- Open the Market panel
- Select a commodity
- Choose quantity
- Buy or sell immediately
Limit Orders
Set your own price and wait for someone to accept it.
Buy Order: "I want to buy 100 Ore at 45 credits each" Sell Order: "I'm selling 50 Electronics at 200 credits each"
Limit orders stay active until:
- Someone fills them
- You cancel them
- You undock (orders are tied to your location)
When to use limit orders: When you're not in a hurry and want a better price than the current market offers. Other players or NPCs may take your order.
Reading the Market
The market interface shows you:
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Commodity | What's being traded |
| Buy Price | Current price to buy |
| Sell Price | Current price to sell |
| Stock | How much is available |
| Volume | Cargo space per unit |
The difference between buy and sell price is the spread. Tighter spreads mean more efficient markets.
Finding Profitable Routes
Good trading routes have:
- Short distance - Less fuel, faster turnover
- High price difference - More profit per trip
- Available supply - No point if the seller is out of stock
- Cargo capacity match - Use your full cargo hold
Example Trade Route
Station A produces Ore (sells at 40 credits) Station B needs Ore (buys at 65 credits) Distance: 5 jumps
Profit per unit: 25 credits If you carry 100 units: 2,500 credits per run
Price Factors
Several things affect prices:
- Location economy - What they produce vs consume
- Stock levels - Running low drives prices up
- Security level - Low-sec stations may have better deals
- Faction standing - Better standing = better prices
- Market activity - Other players buying/selling
Trading Tips
- Start small - Learn the routes before investing big
- Specialize - Master a few commodities rather than trading everything
- Check the economy panel - See what locations produce and consume
- Watch for opportunities - Shortages create profit spikes
- Don't forget fuel - Factor fuel costs into your profit calculations
The Galaxy Market
The Galaxy Market view shows prices across all systems. Use it to:
- Compare prices system-wide
- Find the best buy/sell locations
- Plan multi-stop trading routes
My Inventory names your next step for every stock you hold: whether someone buys it right where it sits, or otherwise the best few places that do. Load the goods onto a fleet, fly there and sell into that buy order.
Wanted at lists every place in the galaxy with an open buy order for the commodity, with its system, the quantity and the price, dearest first. Your own bids are left out. If the list is empty, nobody is buying that commodity right now, so check it before you buy stock you mean to sell on.
Access it from the Command Center or the sidebar menu.
Related Topics
- Commodities Overview - What you can trade
- Production Chains - Understanding supply and demand
- Trade Routes - Automate your trading
- Population & Demand - What drives market demand