Profitable Trade Routes

At the beginning of the game, while still in Liberty, you can find a good profitable trade route between Planet Manhattan and Planet Pittsburgh. Fill up on Pharmaceuticals at Manhattan, then sell them at Pittsburgh. Next, fill up on Boron at Pittsburgh and sell them at Manhattan. Keep doing this to easily get enough money to upgrade your ship to a Rhyno. You can earn nearly 5,000 credits for the whole round trip.

If you are patient, try this trade route. Buy Gate/Lane parts at Trenton Outpost in New York. Take this to Holman Outpost in the Tau 31 system and sell it. Then, buy Niobium at Holman Outpost and take this to Planet Manhattan (which is next to Trenton Outpost). Sell it, then go back to Trenton Outpost and repeat the process. Using a Humpback freighter can earn you 347,500 credits in one round trip. If you prefer to keep a Heavy Fighter, you can still earn 97,300 credits in one round trip.