Fix the endpoints and the exit method
Open Market Intelligence and choose an item and hub. Identify the source and destination locations precisely. A regional quote does not by itself say that all the stock is waiting in your chosen station.
Decide whether you intend to sell immediately into existing demand or place a sell order and wait. Those are different operations. For an immediate-trade model, source asks and destination bids are the relevant sides to compare; destination asks describe competing supply rather than an immediate buyer for your cargo.
Work through more than the top price
Suppose a source snapshot offers 40 units at 100 ISK and another 60 at 110 ISK. A model that consumes those levels to buy 70 units costs 40 × 100 + 30 × 110 = 7,300 ISK, not 7,000 ISK.
Now suppose the destination snapshot has this demand:
| Bid level | Units | Gross ISK |
|---|---|---|
| 130 ISK | 20 | 2,600 ISK |
| 120 ISK | 30 | 3,600 ISK |
| Unmatched cargo | 20 | Unknown |
Only 50 units have a supported immediate exit in this example. Their modeled purchase cost is 5,100 ISK and gross proceeds are 6,200 ISK, leaving 1,100 ISK before fees and transport. The other 20 units cannot inherit the best bid simply because they fit in your hold.
This is snapshot arithmetic, not an instruction to submit one large in-game order. Check the client's actual order matching and transaction quote before execution.
Apply the constraints to the same quantity
In a Cargo Manifest, compare source supply, destination demand, available ISK and usable hold space. For the example, choosing 50 instead of 70 units resolves the unsupported exit only if those 50 still fit your other limits.
Inspect order location, range and minimum-volume conditions in game. Two rows with similar prices are not automatically interchangeable. Missing or old observations are grounds to refresh or defer the line, not reasons to fill the gap with a convenient price.
Recalculate the mixed cargo
Add a second cargo line only after the first is understood. The lines share the same hold and wallet, so two individually feasible purchases may exceed the combined limits. Compare ISK committed and cubic metres used alongside the projected result.
Avoid filling spare hold space merely because it is available. A low-margin line can consume capital you need for charges or another purchase. Leave headroom according to your operation rather than aiming for an arbitrary full hold.
Refresh before committing the shipment
Save the quantities and assumptions if you want to return later. Reopen the operation and refresh the evidence before buying: a saved manifest preserves a decision, not those market orders.
Continue with fees, hauling and working capital, then return to the manifest with the full cost of the journey.
Sources and related reference
Hypothetical station-book arithmetic for an immediate-trade model. Check actual matching, range, minimum volume and fees in the client.