How to quickly make money from trades in Europa Universalis 5

Trading in Europa Universalis 5 may seem like a daunting task given the complexity of its operations. However, it is also true that the trades are one of your best tools to make money in the game and strengthen your economy. Much like real life, you must focus on expanding your trade to other nations, getting the trade advantage, and more. Initially, the best thing to do is automate the trade to learn from the AI, but there's more to it.

This article will break down the many complex terms surrounding the trades in Europa Universalis 5 and explain how you can make money quickly by using certain methods.

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Trades in Europa Universalis 5: Understanding the terms and how they can help you make money

Trade options and marketplaces tab in Europa Universalis 5 (Image via YouTube/@TheSocialStreamers/Paradox Interactive)

To start with, if you feel confused by the trading system in Europa Universalis 5, perhaps the best way to start is by automating trade. This will not only take the burden off of you while you learn but also teach you how the trades function in your game.

To automate your trade, simply navigate to the tab located at the top right of your screen and click on the golden star/cog icon, which is the third icon in the tab. This is the automation tab, where you can automate everything from trades to buildings. Click on 'Trade' and watch the AI pick the best markets for you so you can observe and learn.

That being said, let's quickly discuss some terms and how they determine how much money you make via trades:

• Trade Capacity: As the name suggests, this is how much trade you can conduct. You need Trade Capacity points to import and export your goods, and these points exist across all markets separately. For instance, if you want to conduct trade in Venezia, you need to have Trade Capacity points in this region. Increasing Trade Capacity means increasing trade and thereby making more money.
• Trade Advantage: When multiple nations want the same goods from a specific market, the one with the higher Trade Advantage gets the best deal. You can increase Trade Advantage by creating more trade-related buildings in your desired markets.

Let's discuss how you can improve your trade and start making money quickly in Europa Universalis 5.

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Tips to start making money quickly

Pick the right nation and increase crown power

The Control section in Europa Universalis 5 (Image via YouTube/@TheSocialStreamers/Paradox Interactive)

Firstly, it's very important to pick the right nation in Europa Universalis 5. England and Portugal are strong yet comfortable choices for beginners. These countries are especially good when it comes to trade and expansion.

The mechanic here is simple: the more Crown Power you have, the higher percentage of your trade profits you will earn in Europa Universalis 5. To increase this metric, you must increase your control over the various regions close to your Capital. To do so, focus on building roads, ports, and expanding power directly via your cabinet to gain more control over the population.

This may seem like a long task; however, it is crucial to your income in Europa Universalis 5. Also, ensure your subjects are taxed fairly to keep them happy and maintain your control

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Create supply droughts

You may flood a certain market with a certain good at a cheap rate. For instance, if Cotton is cheap in England, try and secure a market there. Then supply cotton from England to your neighbouring nations at a cheap rate to the extent that they become dependent on you. Once a few years pass and you've eliminated all competition, increase your prices.

Note that throughout this time, it's important for you to continue making a profit even when you sell it cheaply. It's also vital to secure markets for which you need to keep building marketplaces. This is discussed in the next section.

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More Buildings

Build more Buildings to increase Trade Capacity and Trade Advantage (Image via YouTube/@TheSocialStreamers/Paradox Interactive)

You need to heavily invest in making more and more Buildings in your neighboring states. Do to so, go to the panel on your left-hand side, right under where your King is shown. On this panel, you can go to the Production tab, under which you will find the Buildings section. Type "Trade Capacity" and the game will show you various buildings you can make to increase your trade capacity in your chosen location.

Focus on building Marketplaces and don't forget building wharves, especially for nations dependent on the Sea for their economy. Increase your Trade Capacity rapidly to earn more money in Europa Universalis 5, especially as a beginner.

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Game Hints and Automation

The Automation tab in Europa Universalis 5 (Image via YouTube/@TheSocialStreamers/Paradox Interactive)

Once you have secured multiple marketplaces across the continent, it's time to automate them. You can go to the Economy tab on the left-hand side panel, and in the Marketplace section, you will see all your active regions. You can select individual Marketplaces to automate, and the game will earn you profit while you focus on specific areas instead.

You must also look into production efficiency in Europa Universalis 5. Go through your region's various smaller provinces and look at the supply, demand, and production stats shown by the game in the Production tab.

Establish a supply chain wherever you see a demand for a certain good. For instance, a province on the verge of war via the sea may be interested in weapons even at a higher rate. Take advantage of any situation.

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These were some tips that can help you make money fast in Europa Universalis 5. Overall, the game is highly strategic and involves many complicated steps to get things right. Making a lot of money may take some time, but these are the fastest methods to do so.