Specialized Industries--What's the point?

[Aero182]

it seems like all they do is provide jobs. For some reason we are tracking imports/exports but it doesn't seem to effect us in any meaningful way? And these aren't government owned businesses so we make $0 from exporting anything (except for water/electricity)

What's the point of cargo ports/etc? It just costs us money, and the trucks could be using the road for free. Are resources produced in our city cheaper for the residents? or the same price as importing? It doesn't seem to affect anything at all.

[ExavierMacbeth]

Specialized Industries produce the raw materials needed by your Industries... This lowers their overhead bills, spend less on imports, make more profit... What this means for the city is that the normal industry becomes more profitable, can upgrade their building level to become cleaner/more efficient, and can be taxed more without running them out of town.

Cargo Ports/Trains have a similar effect by making Imports/Exports cheaper to acquire... again giving the industry more profits that can be used for level ups or to pay taxes/rent.

The overhead for the ports really depends on how big your industrial area is. If you just have a small bit of industry then yea, your probably better off letting them continue to use trucks. The value of Trains/Ships is more on the order of large scale attrition rather than fast & dirty income.

[boltentoke]

I'm not exactly sure. But I remember reading that specialized industry pays more in taxes.

So if you have a Forestry zone for example, you should have more Forestry-related businesses in your nearby industrial zoning that will utilize the Forestry zone. Shops making Timber from the Wood, and others making Furniture from the Timber. Since these businesses are able to source materials locally rather than importing, they should have higher profit, allowing them to grow to higher levels which pay more taxes.

Don't ask for a source, I'd have to google and search through the links.

Also, I built a large Forestry zone next my existing Industrial zone. So far, I can't tell if there is actually a higher proportion of wood-related businesses. But a majority of the businesses turning Wood into Timber are complaining of High Rent, and I'm not sure why.

[Ellorien]

I built a cargo port which is supposedly “84% efficient” (no idea what that means, frankly) and it is being filled up with stuff. Cars and truck coming and going, loading and unloading. Never seen a single cargo ship, though.
Specialized industry is supposedly a good thing because their products are readily available and cheaper than imported goods for the local industry and commerce. You tax profits so if the businesses are more profitable by spending less on imports then you collect more in taxes. That’s my understanding of this anyway.

[ExavierMacbeth]

Originally posted by Ellorien:

Never seen a single cargo ship, though.

Have to ask... did you actually set up a shipping line for the boats. Unlike CS1 where they just showed up automatically, you actually have to set trade lines to outside connections in CS2. Otherwise the only boats you will see are the ones just passing through.