Turning export profits with raw materials

[Incrediblejimmy]

As goods like quarried stone or wood are relatively worthless but at the same time can easily be produced in huge quantities, it seems to me that the profitability of exporting those goods hinges on transport costs alone, and thereby probably only has a chance to work with ships. So I wanted to know if anyone has made profitable export setups before I sink my time in trying something that ultimately doesn't work...

[MrKrabs]

I export gravel which is left over via ship. Gives a good little extra.
But my setup is not built for efficiency. If I remember correctly I make some 20 k profit per year.
To small ships are busy exporting.

[Incrediblejimmy]

Originally posted by MrKrabs:

I export gravel which is left over via ship. Gives a good little extra.
But my setup is not built for efficiency. If I remember correctly I make some 20 k profit per year.
To small ships are busy exporting.

Yes, I'm also exporting a bit of overproduction...which is exactly what made me wonder if it pays to scale it up...

[MrKrabs]

Well, if it is done by trucks than I doubt it.
I havent calculated to fuel usage. But a ship will do.
I did it once on another map with a large bulk carrier.

Here is my harbor.
The train takes gravel elsewhere.
The two ships exporting.


https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3266477149

[m4rek]

Probably worth mentioning that gravel isn't technically a raw material but a processed one. Step 1 processing only, but it is an extra 50% value. So raw stone probably isn't worth it at all, but almost-as-plentiful gravel has a much better shot.

[MrKrabs]

Thanks for clarification.
You are right.
Gravel is indeed a product.

To sell it profitable it is also of importance how far a ship has to travel to the border.
Where my harbor is located it is not super far away.

I look forward to check how much I make a year with gravel.
It is always different.
It depends how much I build.
If I do lots of street and underground pipes I use a lot of gravel which I then of course won't export.

[Incrediblejimmy]

Originally posted by m4rek:

Probably worth mentioning that gravel isn't technically a raw material but a processed one. Step 1 processing only, but it is an extra 50% value. So raw stone probably isn't worth it at all, but almost-as-plentiful gravel has a much better shot.

Depends...I was more thinking of quarried stone here as well. Interesting property there is that it doesn't really need workers in the export chain. Allthough I have my doubts that fuel and maintenance makes it worth it.
Thinking about it the cheapest way to transport is probably a long train pulled by the pig mini-loco - my problem with large quantity export by train is that it blocks a customs house plattform forever though...