What is the point of bauxite and salt?

[<LBB> Morix]

Logs can be made into lumber which can be made into furniture.

Iron can be made into weapons.

Gold can be made into jewelry.

Tobacco to cigars. Sugar to rum. Fish, pineapple, and coffee can all be canned.

But bauxite and salt are two weird resources that, for some reason, cannot be made into anything else at all. As far as I know, there is no ability nor capacity to improve those markets. All you can do is export them as-is. Kind of dull, no? So why bother including them in the game if you can't build an industry out of them like every other resource?

[PJ]

Well, it's the same with, for example, papayas or bananas. You can't turn them into any of the processed goods, so you have to export them raw. Same with goat cheese, lama wool and corn.

Keep in mind that first and foremost Tropico is a 3rd world country, basically a 'banana republic". In the time period that the game covers countries like that generally relied on exporting raw materials and unprocessed goods or foods - caused by an uneducated workforce and generally bad economic situation, which earned them their name and reputation. Now, as Presidente, you may choose to turn your island into an industry giant, and even leader in high-tech stuff and post-industrial economy, but that's just your choice. The setting of the game fistly simulates a raw-material-export-based economy, otherwise it wouldn't be a "banana republic sim", it just gives you a choice and a chance to overcome that stereotype.

Also, remember that with the Modern Times DLC, more industries are available and you can turn bauxite into cars or electronics, so that's one problem solved. And salt mines boost all cattle ranches and fishing industry (maybe canneries too, the game seems to be confused on that part) nearby, so, there, another purpose.

[Jck||ky]

Bauxite is very useful as a source of aluminium, and third world countries use aluminium for almost everything as a cheap metal based resource (almost an upgrade-maker like electricity)...so the developers were probably right in leaving the catch-all item as it is, to prevent Catch-22. However, I see distinct use for it in terms of a utensil factory...pots and pans and upgrades for canneries.

*Upgrades for restaurants, electricity substations, TV stations etc.

[Uzi Master]

Bauxite is more profitable than Iron as a raw resource, and you have the benefit of not missing out on future profits from industrial goods.

Salt never depletes, so it works as an always available source of income (albiet rather ineffective) it also boosts the prodction of nearby ranches and canneries. Most important reason is so mining based story missions don't become unwinnable; e.g. export X ammount of mining products could be impossible if you already sold all bauxite iron and gold.

[SadonicShadow]

Bauxite can be used in the electronics factory and salt is just a cheap, unlimited resource. When starting out a new game i try and get all salt mines up and running. Given that salt never runs out it can serve as a good source of basic income for your island and the salt mine only uses 4 uneducated workers so staffing it fully is no issue. Add in perks that boost production and you can make some decent money. Also on a side note placing ranches near a salt mine will also boost the production of the ranch so there is that aswell.