Docklands exchange rate

[kubluu]

Given 2 goods, one exported and one imported, how do you determine if the exchange is worth it or if it is better to produce the good instead of importing it?

[XceptOne]

If you've got more of one thing than you currently need and not enough of another and don't want to invest in a production chain for whatever reasons (like space requirements, workers, money or just because) then it's a good deal.
If you don't need the stuff you're buying then it's usually a bad deal.

Well, for a more serious answer, you could try and compare what's needed for both production chains, but it'll be almost always about getting rid of overproduction or accessing more rare things like gold, when getting new gold mines is hard and so on.

[Sarsgamer]

There's a fandom page showing each items worth. https://anno1800.fandom.com/wiki/Exchange_Ratios sort by goods value.

Though if you have excess of something just trade it for what you need. It helps your docklands progress.

For a new player I'd suggest producing everything yourself and use docklands to supplement those productions.