Market Discussions

I've been thinking of doing small volume trading but I can't seem to find mission hubs.

1. How can I tell if a system or a station is a mission hub?
2. Will there be lots of trade volume for ammo and drones and little volume for everything else?
3. Will there be a lot of players in the system?
4. Can I look at the number of agents and their levels to figure out if a system contains a mission hub?

or you look at npcs kiled statistics in-game or on dotlan

That will give you a rough idea, as missions are often in neighbouring systems and constellations. The actual mission hub will be in the center of it. [Pilots docked is also something to check.]

Once in the area though, check the market for where all the orders are.

Example of a mission hubs: Penirgman, Motsu.

Also check for security agents for any of the navies (always popular for missions).

Just lots of orders

Quickly go through ammo for example, but you should be able to look at most anything a missioner might want to buy or sell (even minerals from reprocessed mission loot).

Ombey's maps show all known-at-the-time trade hubs circled in red.

Never forget this step. I did once, and I got hit by a runaway Orca. The Basilisk Pilots saw all up in my junk.

1. Pick a region
2. Set up some region wide buy orders
3. ????
4. Profit!

Most of the profitable mission hubs have level 4 agents. Some hubs that have other level agents in addition to level 4 agents are thus even better as you can sell a greater variety of items (e.g. skillbooks)

Some NPC corps are more popular for missions than others (e.g. Caldari Navy)- thus all level 4 hubs are not equally good. The less popular hubs have lesser competition- thus can also be profitable.

In addition to the numbers in local, always check how many people are docked in station at any given time. More than 10 is okay, and more than 20 is pretty good. There are also usually a few ships immediately outside the station in busy hubs.

Look at the market details for mission specific items e.g. ammo, tank/damage modules.

Doing a google or eve-search for trade hubs is also likely to give you long lists of hubs, as this topic comes up periodically in MD. Recently CCP also published a list of market activity at various hubs, which you may find useful.

Edit: Best way to find minor trade hubs is to play the game. Once you've been through the grind you know where what is needed. In addition to PvE there are many other activities that generate market opportunities.