Trading & economy — keep your fleet funded
Credits paper over Hyperfuel shortages, recruitment drives, and emergency imports — learn what to craft, sell, or stash out of scanner range.
How NPC pricing feels
Sell orders anchor fair value while bespoke buy orders tax impatient captains. If you can farm or fabricate an item, do — impulse shopping drains wallets faster than pirates.
Rules of thumb
- Ship surplus processed goods every payday cycle.
- Pick up rare blueprint scraps only when discounts appear.
- Skip purchasing Hyperfuel, algae stacks, or rods once mines/refiners hum.
High-margin staples
S-tier crafters
| Good | Source | Why players chase it |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured weapons & armor | Item Fabricator | Sells far above ore inputs. |
| Fabric bolts | Cotton grow beds | Passive daily income. |
| Energy rods | Energium refining | Liquid anywhere. |
Reliable runners
- Kitchen surplus → packaged meals.
- Alien hunts → monster meat.
- Fuel stockpiles → Hyperfuel sales after safety buffers.
- Chem lab outputs near xenobiome sectors.
Fabricator economy
Once fabrication spins, income headaches fade — queue batches before visiting wealthy hubs so negotiation menus show full racks instead of desperate pocket change.
Fabric farms
Cotton cycles slot neatly beside food plots; a dedicated botanist keeps bolts flowing while combat crews stay on call.
Self-sufficiency loops
- Farms → kitchens → packaged exports.
- Ice → water → breathable stacks.
- Solar dominance + backup gens.
- Mined Hyperium → refinery → jump freedom.
Black markets
Hidden anomalies peddle organs, collars, and alien goo for premium credits — just remember Military patrols love contraband scans. Seal illicit lockers away from logistics drones when jumping lawful corridors.
Contraband snapshot
Harvested via Surgical Enhancement Facility (Alpha 19+). Black market only.
Harvested from dead aliens. High value, black market only.
Used by Slavers Guild. Trading raises Slaver relations, crew morale penalty.
Dropped by aliens. Can be cooked for high-nutrition meals.
Medical supply, trade or use in sick bay.
Required to cure alien parasite infections. Craft from Raw Chemicals.
Raw materials
| Resource | Source | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Energium | Asteroids | Refined into Energy Rods via Energy Refinery |
| Hyperium | Asteroids | Refined into Hyperfuel for hyperspace jumps |
| Ice | Asteroids | Processed into Water for oxygen generation and food |
| Raw Metals | Asteroids / Salvage | Building materials, hull expansion |
| Raw Chemicals | Asteroids / Derelicts | Chemical Refinery input, alien enzyme production |
Processed goods
| Good | Demand | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Rods | High demand | Primary power item, high trade value |
| Hyperfuel | High demand | Required for every hyperspace jump |
| Fabrics | High demand | 1 grow bed produces ~5/day, sells for ~$180 each |
| Food Rations | Steady | Stable trading commodity, especially packaged meals |
| Fertilizer | Steady | Buy ice → produce fertilizer → sell or use for crops |
Related guides
Research Tree
Unlock fabricators & refineries.
Ship Building
Industrial layouts for throughput.
Salvage & Mining
Cheap ore inputs.
Factions Guide
Who buys what.
Frequently asked questions
What items sell for the most in Space Haven?
The highest value tradeable items are: (1) Items crafted via Item Fabricator (weapons, armor), (2) Fabrics (~$180 each, easily mass produced), (3) Energy Rods from your Energy Refinery, (4) Packaged Meals and Monster Meat for food traders.
Is the black market worth using?
Yes, if you find one. Black markets are hidden locations on the galaxy map — look for suspicious unmarked signals. They trade contraband like human organs and alien materials at extremely high prices. Military Alliance ships will scan for contraband, so keep illegal goods in hidden storage.
How does the buy/sell price system work?
Selling prices are your baseline. Buying the same item from an NPC trader typically costs 5-6x the sell price. Never buy what you can produce yourself. Focus on manufacturing goods your current sector does not have in abundance.
How do I get Hyperfuel efficiently?
Mine Hyperium asteroids and run it through your Energy Refinery to produce Hyperfuel directly. This is far cheaper than purchasing Hyperfuel from traders. In early game, buy only as much Hyperfuel as needed for the next 2-3 jumps while you set up your own production.
Can I make money from salvage?
Yes. Derelict ships often contain Energy Rods, weapons, and raw materials worth thousands. Run everything through a Recycler to convert junk into sellable scrap. A dedicated salvage crew with high Construct skill can turn derelict hunting into your primary income in mid-game.