Many players struggle to keep their economy afloat in Tropico 6, particularly during the Cold War era. If you find yourself constantly going broke, it’s likely that you’re not optimizing your exports. This guide will break down the best ways to generate wealth in each era, along with key strategies to maximize profits.

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General Money-Making Tips

Before diving into era-specific advice, here are some universal strategies to increase revenue:

• Use the Trade Screen – Click on the trade screen and check the “Goods and Prices” tab. Sort by price to see which exports are most valuable.
• Focus on Manufacturing – Processing raw materials into manufactured goods yields much higher profits than selling raw resources.
• Monitor Price Modifiers – The price modifier tab in the trade screen highlights goods that are temporarily more profitable.
• Balance Teamsters – Too many Teamsters lead to wasted wages, but too few cause production bottlenecks. Finding the right balance is crucial.

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Colonial Era: Early Game Profits

In this era, your export options are limited, but a few key industries can generate a steady income:

• Gold – If you have gold veins nearby, this is the best raw resource to export at $9,000 per 1,000 units.
• Rum – Build sugar plantations and a rum distillery to generate an export price of $9,200 per 1,000 units.
• Leather – While hides can be processed into leather at $5,400 per 1,000 units, this method is often inefficient compared to rum or gold.

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World War Era: First Major Industrial Boom

With the introduction of better industries, you can begin scaling up your economy:

• Boats – Logs from logging camps are processed into planks and then turned into boats at the shipyard. Exporting boats brings in $12,000 per 1,000 units.
• Cigars – Tobacco to a cigar factory produces exports at $11,500 per 1,000 units. This industry requires only two transport steps.
• Weapons – A highly profitable industry at $15,000 per 1,000 units, but it requires a steel mill (coal and iron) and nickel mines.

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Cold War Era: The Most Profitable Exports

Many players struggle in this era, but making money is easy if you focus on the right industries:

• Furniture – Replacing shipyards with furniture factories is recommended since they can be placed anywhere and offer slightly better profits.
• Uranium – Despite being a raw resource, uranium exports for $12,000 per 1,000 units. If a deposit is close to a port, this is a great source of income.
• Jewelry – While gold exports at $9,000 per 1,000 units, turning it into jewelry can generate $16,500 per 1,000 units. If gold is abundant, this is worth considering.
• Cars – The most profitable item of the Cold War era, exporting at $28,000 per 1,000 units. Requires steel and rubber, but the payoff is massive.

Avoid low-paying exports like:

• Fish Farms
• Chocolates
• Plastics

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Modern Times Era: Endgame Profit Strategies

While fewer new industries emerge, maximizing profits remains essential:

• Cars – Still the highest-value manufactured good at $28,000 per 1,000 units.
• Apparel – A strong alternative at $13,000 per 1,000 units, requiring only cotton or wool to produce cloth.
• Electronics – Exports for about $10,000 per 1,000 units, making it a decent but not top-tier option.
• DLC Items (if applicable):
  • Smart Furniture (Llama of Wall Street DLC) – Sells for $18,000 per 1,000 units.
  • Surveillance Drones (Caribbean Skies DLC) – Exports at $14,000 per 1,000 units.

Avoid low-paying options like the Juicery Factory, which only generates $5,400 per 1,000 units.

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Final Thoughts

Maximizing profits in Tropico 6 requires a balance of efficient production and smart exports. Follow these tips, focus on high-value manufactured goods, and ensure your Teamsters are optimized for transport.

If you found this guide helpful, leave a comment below with your own money-making strategies and subscribe for more Tropico 6 content!