Patrizierforum

Not a great secret but a good tip for others; in fact I have written you on the subject as well. It costs more to haul, as I have posted elsewhere, than it is worth for profit, and storage is expensive as well. Best to develop supplies well, and let the AI haul extra in fact, if you have any AI ships sailing about. Furthermore, there is a benefit from selling other goods to the employed masses.

Timber is a second product that is similar in its economics. Fish, wool should mostly be sold at about cost in later points in the game.

In fact, I generally do the same with beer as well.

Well, I apply this method since 2 game months now and I must say: it is genial !

I sunk the prices for grain to 90 in the moment, for timber it was some time down to 5 , but now I rise up to 45 and for beer it is 35 .
The storage cost´s are very high, so I sunk costs on one side and on the other side I made my population happy (so the number went up).

I was sceptically about the AI, if they ratten the system, but they don´t. The trick is simple. You have only to set down the prives in every town to the same level. So the AI has no market for selling and buying and they let the hands off it and trade with other goods.
Of course you have to produce the needed masses for this system.