1. Supply & Demand Mechanics
Starminer has a dynamic economy. Prices at Reclamation 9 and NPC traders fluctuate based on:
- How much you've sold recently: Flooding the market with 500 units of iron drops the iron price by 30-40% for 2-3 hours
- NPC trader activity: NPC ships also buy and sell, affecting prices independently
- System events: Random events (pirate blockades, station shortages) create temporary price spikes of 2-3×
- Rarity multiplier: Rare ores have a 2-5× base price multiplier that never drops below the multiplier floor
2. Reclamation 9 Trading
Reclamation 9 is the primary trade hub and your main selling point for most of the game.
| Action | Best Practice |
|---|---|
| Selling refined metals | Dock → Open Trade Terminal → Check current buy prices → Sell if above 80% of max |
| Buying modules | Check the "Today's Specials" tab — 1-2 random modules are discounted 20% daily |
| NPC trader encounters | Loiter near Reclamation 9 for 3-5 minutes. NPC trade ships arrive with rare modules not in the standard shop |
| Bulk selling | Sell in batches of 50-100 units max. Selling 500+ at once crashes the price for your next sale |
3. Price Timing Strategy
| Price Level | % of Max | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 🟢 High Demand | 90-100% | Sell everything! Rare window — maximize volume |
| 🟡 Normal | 70-89% | Sell normally. Good price, proceed |
| 🟠 Low Demand | 50-69% | Sell only if you need credits urgently. Otherwise store |
| 🔴 Price Crash | Below 50% | Do NOT sell. Store ore until prices recover (~2-3 hours) |
💡 The Storage Play
Build large cargo depots at your station. When prices crash, store everything. When a high-demand event hits (station shortage, blockade), dump your entire stockpile at 2-3× normal prices. One well-timed bulk sale can net 200,000+ credits.
4. What to Sell vs Hold
| Resource | Sell or Hold? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Iron, Silicon (refined) | Sell anytime | Always in demand. Stable prices. Low profit margin but high volume |
| Copper, Titanium (refined) | Hold for 80%+ price | Moderate fluctuation. Worth waiting for good prices |
| Gold, Platinum (refined) | Hold for 90%+ price | High value, volatile prices. Patience pays 2× |
| Rare Earth (Neodymium etc.) | ALWAYS hold for 95%+ | Never sell rare earth at normal prices. Wait for shortage events (2-4× multiplier) |
| Hydrogen, Helium-3 | Never sell | Fuel is more valuable as fuel than as a trade good. Keep it |
5. Trade Ship Design
A dedicated trade ship is different from a hauler: max cargo, max speed, zero mining/combat modules. Its only job is flying from your refinery depot to Reclamation 9 and back.
"Merchant" Trade Ship: Medium Reactor, Advanced Thruster ×2, Large Cargo Hold ×4, Light Shield, PD Turret. 55t. Cost: ~28,000. Makes the Refinery → Reclamation 9 run in 2-3 minutes with 400+ units of cargo. One Merchant servicing a well-supplied depot generates 80,000+ credits per round trip at good prices.
Related: Money Making Guide · Hauler Logistics · Ore Locations