Basic trade strategy question

[DaemoneIsos]

Having read the manual a couple of times through, I am a bit confused, and would be grateful for some insight.

As I start my first turn of the grand campaign (as UK), my country is already set to sell multiple commodities on the foreign market, including tea.

Would I not be better off selling that tea to my national population? It appears that would generate the same capital, plus I get to collect taxes, right? And my local satisfaction goes up a bit too, yes? So it seems to me that I should sell all I can to my own people until I max out their purchasing demand, and only then sell internationally.

Is this correct? Am I better off cancelling those international trades and instead selling my tea to the Brits?

Many thanks in advance for your guidance,

-D

[willgamer]

Having read the manual a couple of times through, I am a bit confused, and would be grateful for some insight.

As I start my first turn of the grand campaign (as UK), my country is already set to sell multiple commodities on the foreign market, including tea.

Would I not be better off selling that tea to my national population? It appears that would generate the same capital, plus I get to collect taxes, right? And my local satisfaction goes up a bit too, yes? So it seems to me that I should sell all I can to my own people until I max out their purchasing demand, and only then sell internationally.

Is this correct? Am I better off cancelling those international trades and instead selling my tea to the Brits?

Many thanks in advance for your guidance,

-D

I've only tried USA, but I try to meet the total demand for that class of goods, e.g.food, with the cheapest things hoping to be able to lower domestic consumption of expensive items that could be exported.

You do want to meet the total demand of goods in each of the 3 classes (IIRC food, common, luxury), if possible, to increase happiness.

[sbr]

Your national population can only buy so much of an item, so while making them the first priority they may not be able to take all of your surplus.

[Doctoxic]

Your national population can only buy so much of an item, so while making them the first priority they may not be able to take all of your surplus.

if you set internal trade to very high - say 100% - what happens to the stuff they don't buy - does it still go to international trade?

if so there seems to be little point to the sliders???

[Eoghammer]

if you set internal trade to very high - say 100% - what happens to the stuff they don't buy - does it still go to international trade?

if so there seems to be little point to the sliders???

If they didn't buy, it will be stockpiled for a moment... increasing your stock...

[Doctoxic]

If they didn't buy, it will be stockpiled for a moment... increasing your stock...

does that mean it ends uop back on the international market?

cos if so there seems no downside to setting internal sales to 100% and leaving it there

[willgamer]

does that mean it ends uop back on the international market?

cos if so there seems no downside to setting internal sales to 100% and leaving it there

Sort of, it means it is stockpiled and available for trade. If the stockpile gets too big it is subject to wastage. Basically, you're on the right track. If all internal needs are met, set to 80%, and sell, sell, sell......

(You can only set the internal sales between 20% and 80%.)

Remember, you're internal market will grow, though, so you may not have a surplus forever.

[DaemoneIsos]

As I look at my domestic demand, I have plenty of common goods to satisfy my population, but not many luxuries. It looks like there are luxuries available on the international markets at normal prices.

Do I have anything to lose by buying up those luxuries and then selling them to my citizens? It appears that my private capital costs will be fully refunded the next turn, and I should make a bunch of tax revenues off the luxury excise taxes, plus my national regions will gain some satisfaction. Am I missing anything?

Many Thanks,

-D