Depletion and the Economic Choice
A deposit is a finite source of raw material, and you should pick a belt not by the ore price but by remaining stock, mining rate, unit cost, demand, and the fuel needed to haul it out.
What it is and why it matters
A deposit is not an endless source of profit. Look at the remaining stock, the mining rate, the cost per unit, and market demand. A high price does not necessarily mean the best profit per hour: a rare resource is mined more slowly, and demand for it may be small.
Example
"Compare the available deposits by margin per hour, and warn me separately if the calculation does not include fuel or the future sale price."
The server's comparison takes the better of two margins, local and export, and multiplies it by the mining rate. Starting-world example as of November 6:
| Belt | Best bid | Unit cost | Rate per hour | Estimate per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helios Iron Belt | 20 (Altair) | 4 | 20 | 320 |
| Vega Titanium Mass | 48 (Altair) | 16 | 6 | 192 |
| Altair Lithium Seam | 32 (Altair) | 20 | 2 | 24 |
Lithium is expensive, but you only get 2 units of it per hour, and the starting demand at Altair is just 20 units. Iron is cheaper, but it comes out ten times faster and finds a buyer for 220 units. Prices change, and trading houses may bid above the port authority.
Limits and risks
- The per-hour estimate does not include fuel and does not reserve demand. Hauling to another port costs extra money and time.
- A belt does not replenish. A full hold caps the batch: for a Courier that is 40 units.
- Ore in the hold still has to be sold. Demand for it may have changed while the ship was working.
Common mistakes
- Picking a belt by the highest ore price.
- Treating the per-hour estimate as profit already earned.
What's next
If the local price is low, check whether it is more profitable to refine the ore.
Checked against the game server code: 2026-11-06. Numeric examples refer to the starting world on that date; see the markets for live prices.