Overview
Hello everyone, Satron here with another quick Victoria 3 tutorial—this time focused on the basics of trade. Whether you’re new to the game or looking for a few extra tips, this guide will show you how to control your market, set up profitable trade routes, and understand the mechanics behind convoys and trade policies. (For a deeper dive into tariffs, trade revenue, and trade levels, check out my upcoming video.)

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1. Controlling Your Own Market

Stay in Your Own Market

The first step in successful trade is to control your own market. For example, if you’re playing as Norway and find yourself in the Swedish market, you’ll have little to no control over your trade routes. In that situation, you can’t create new routes, manage your convoys, or adjust policies.

• Key Tip: Avoid becoming a subject of another nation through war or diplomacy. Losing your independence means losing control of your trade and convoys.

Why It Matters

Being in your own market lets you:

• Create and manage trade routes.
• Use your convoys to boost trade efficiency.
• Adjust tariffs and trade policies to maximize revenue.

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2. Declaring Interests for Expanded Trade

Engaging with Other Markets

To trade with nations outside your market, you need to declare interests:

• Example: If you need wood from the Moroccan market, click the relevant product (e.g., wood) and then check for significant producers.
• Declare Interest: Use the Diplomatic Lens to declare an interest in a target country (like Russia) so that their market becomes available for trading.

Activating Trade Routes

Once your interest is declared and activated, you can set up new import or export routes.

• Golden Rule: Aim for green trade routes—this indicates positive trade flow and revenue. If some routes are in the red, focus on adjusting them or wait until you have more stable conditions.

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3. Understanding Trade Costs and Convoys

Bureaucracy and Convoy Requirements

Trade routes come with costs and logistical requirements:

• Bureaucracy Cost: Each trade route costs 20 bureaucracy points (hover over the route for a breakdown).
• Convoy Consumption: Depending on the product, each trade route requires a certain number of convoys. For example, wood might require a multiplier of 0.25 per route, while heavier goods like artillery might need 1.5 times the convoys.

Boosting Your Convoy Capacity

Technology plays a critical role in managing trade logistics:

• Early Tech: The Stock Exchange tech reduces trade route bureaucracy costs by 25%.
• Naval Upgrades: Upgrading ports (from basic production methods to clippers, steamers, and eventually coal/oil-powered vessels) dramatically increases your available convoys.
• Customs Unions: Being in a customs union with other nations can provide bonus convoys, as seen with the British market.

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4. Trade Policies and Diplomatic Plays

Adjusting Trade Policies

Your nation’s trade policy affects both cost and volume:

• Isolationism: Restricts trade routes completely.
• Free Trade: Reduces tariffs and lowers bureaucracy costs, boosting trade volume.
• Protectionism: Increases tariffs and may protect domestic industries but can reduce overall trade efficiency.

Diplomatic Tools

You have multiple options to open up trade with other nations:

• Trade Agreements: Establish bilateral trade pacts that eliminate tariffs and bureaucracy costs.
• Diplomatic Plays: Aggressively secure treaty ports or use “open market” plays to force changes in enemy trade policies (though these actions may have broader diplomatic repercussions).
• Embargoes: If needed, you can also halt trade with a country through diplomatic actions (at an influence cost), though this can have long-term consequences.

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5. Final Tips and Next Steps

Key Takeaways

• Control Your Market: Ensure you remain independent and in your own market to unlock trade management.
• Declare Strategic Interests: Use the Diplomatic Lens to activate trade opportunities with neighboring markets.
• Monitor Costs and Logistics: Keep an eye on bureaucracy costs and convoy requirements. Upgrading technology and ports is essential.
• Adjust Trade Policies: Choose trade policies that suit your economic strategy, whether free trade for volume or protectionism for local industry.
• Stay Tuned: For more advanced details on tariffs, trade revenue, and trade levels, be sure to watch my next video.

In Conclusion

Mastering trade in Victoria 3 is about understanding and controlling the market, managing logistics with convoys, and using diplomatic tools to open up new trade routes. By keeping a close eye on your market balance and adjusting policies as needed, you can optimize your trade revenue and boost your nation’s economy.

If you found this guide helpful, please leave a like, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe for more Victoria 3 tutorials. Happy trading!

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