- Sell Ores map searches are handled through the map’s trade filter, not the mining overlay.
- Refineries are the main buyers for ore, silicon, and other solid resources.
- Resource probes reveal mining yields; satellites help track station prices and demand.
- Demand changes as stations fill their storage, so spread miners across several customers.
- Nividium follows a different market pattern and is generally sold to selected trading stations.
Sell Ores Map Basics in X4: Foundations
The Sell Ores map method begins by separating supply information from buyer information. The mining overlay shows asteroid-field yields discovered with resource probes. It does not automatically list every station that wants your cargo. To find buyers, open the map, enable the trade filter, and search for the ware you want to sell.
In most economies, ore is purchased by refineries or factories that use solid resources in production. Silicon follows a similar path, while nividium has fewer practical customers. The map may show only the strongest current offer when you are zoomed far out, so inspect smaller areas when comparing nearby stations.
| Map Feature | What It Shows | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Trade filter | Station demand, offers, and ware prices | Find buyers and compare destinations |
| Mining overlay | Known resource fields and yield data | Select productive mining areas |
| Ware search | Stations or entries matching a resource | Locate ore and silicon customers |
| Satellite coverage | Updated station information | Monitor demand and prices remotely |
Trade Filter
Use the trade filter to search for ore, silicon, or another mined ware. This is the primary tool for locating demand.
Mining Overlay
Use resource probes to reveal asteroid yields. A blank overlay usually means the area has not been surveyed.
Station Knowledge
Explore sectors and deploy satellites near refineries. Better information makes route planning more reliable.
Zoom out for a broad price check, then zoom in sector by sector. A single visible station may represent only the best offer in the current map view.
How to Find Ore Buyers Step by Step
Finding a profitable destination is more than locating a refinery logo. You also need current demand, a practical travel route, and a mining area that can supply the buyer without exposing the ship to unnecessary danger.
Open the Map and Enable Trade Filtering
Open the map and activate the trade filter in the interface. Search for “ore” in the ware field, then select the matching resource entry rather than relying only on station names.
Compare Local Stations
Pan across nearby sectors and zoom in. Check several refineries instead of selecting the first result. Look at price, demand, distance, and faction safety.
Survey the Mining Area
Use a resource probe to check asteroid yields. Favor fields with strong yields and a short route to the refinery whenever possible.
Improve Station Visibility
Explore unexplored portions of the sector and place satellites near important refineries. Updated station data makes future trade decisions easier.
Assign or Confirm the Mining Order
Set the miner to work locally, use repeat orders for a direct mine-and-sell loop, or assign ships to your own mining station when you have established a wider operation.
| Check Before Selling | Why It Matters | Recommended Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Current price | Prices change with storage levels | Prefer a healthy offer, not just the nearest station |
| Demand amount | A full station may accept little cargo | Use another buyer when demand is low |
| Travel distance | Long routes reduce mining cycles | Favor nearby refineries during early expansion |
| Sector safety | Hostile routes can destroy cargo ships | Use activity and travel restrictions |
| Asteroid yield | Yield affects mining productivity | Relocate to stronger resource fields |
A nearby refinery with moderate demand can outperform a distant high-price offer because the miner completes more trips and spends less time traveling.
Best Selling Destinations and Market Control
Refineries are the standard destination for ore because they convert raw minerals into materials used elsewhere in the economy. A local sector miner generally needs both a usable mining field and a refinery within its operating area. If either side is missing, the ship may remain idle or search beyond the intended route.
Avoid sending too many miners to one customer. When storage fills, the station can lower its offer or stop accepting significant quantities. A balanced network with multiple buyers is more stable than a single crowded route.
| Resource | Common Buyers | Market Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Ore | Refineries and ore-consuming factories | Demand is usually broader than the map’s first result suggests |
| Silicon | Refineries and advanced production facilities | Often valuable, but route safety and yield still matter |
| Nividium | Selected trading stations | Limited demand; do not treat it like ordinary refinery cargo |
| Gas resources | Gas-consuming factories and refineries | Requires the correct miner type and local demand |
Local Sector Mining
Best for a simple start. Keep the mining field and buyer in the same sector when possible, reducing travel and management overhead.
Repeat Orders
Useful when one refinery has dependable demand. Create a mining order followed by a sell order, then review the route when demand changes.
Mining Station
A station can collect resources from a wider area and distribute them to multiple customers. Manager skill determines operating range.
Direct Trading
Manual selling gives control over destination and price, but it requires frequent checks because offers change while ships are moving.
Do not assign a large fleet to one refinery without watching its storage. If miners queue outside the station, move some ships, choose another buyer, or build demand through your own production.
Mining Routes, Safety, and Troubleshooting
A profitable route is only useful if the ship can complete it safely. Use sector activity restrictions and travel blacklists to keep miners away from dangerous areas. Be precise when configuring these rules: a sector may be under a neutral faction’s control while still suffering frequent attacks.
If a ship ignores a restriction, inspect whether the blacklist is assigned to the correct ship, station, or manager. Orders issued directly by the player or manager can also send ships through areas that a different restriction does not cover.
Before Launching a Mining Route:
- Confirm the miner uses the correct resource type
- Check the mining field with a resource probe
- Identify at least one refinery with active demand
- Place satellites near important stations
- Assign safety restrictions for hostile sectors
| Problem | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No stations appear | Limited exploration or wrong filter | Explore more sectors and search the ware directly |
| Mining overlay is blank | No resource probe data | Deploy a probe in a promising asteroid field |
| Miner cannot sell | Buyer storage is full or demand is low | Choose another refinery or reduce local supply |
| Ship takes a dangerous route | Restrictions are missing or misconfigured | Review blacklist assignments and sector conditions |
| Nividium has few buyers | Limited market demand | Search trading stations instead of standard refineries |
Keep scouts working ahead of your mining fleet. Their exploration reveals stations, uncovers routes, and helps identify sectors where resources and customers are close together. Satellites are particularly useful around refineries because they preserve current market information without requiring a ship to revisit every station.
Pilot skill affects available automation options, but mining productivity also depends heavily on asteroid yield and route design. Early operations usually benefit more from good mapping and safe placement than from waiting for inexperienced pilots to gain stars.
When a miner stops earning, inspect three areas first: its current order, the buyer’s storage, and the safety route. One of these usually explains the delay.
Sell Ores Map FAQ
Use the FAQ below as a quick reference when your ore route produces fewer sales than expected. Market conditions are dynamic, so review prices and storage instead of assuming that yesterday’s destination remains profitable.
Q: Why does the Sell Ores map show only one station?
The map may display the best available offer for a wide view. Zoom in, pan across individual sectors, and lower the demand threshold if that option is available. More stations may appear after exploration and satellite coverage improve.
Q: Which stations buy ore in X4: Foundations?
Refineries and some ore-consuming factories are the usual buyers. Search for ore with the trade filter, then compare demand, price, distance, and route safety before assigning miners.
Q: Why is a refinery offering a low ore price?
Station prices are influenced by stored inventory and demand. When the refinery is well supplied, its offer can fall. Move part of the mining fleet to another customer or wait for the station to consume its stock.
Q: Should I sell nividium to a refinery?
Nividium has a narrower market than ore or silicon and is generally associated with selected trading stations. Search specifically for nividium buyers instead of assuming every refinery accepts it.
Build your route around information: survey mining fields, reveal refineries, monitor demand, and keep enough buyers available to prevent oversupply.