Production of goods can be divided into a lot of production chains. Many products are made out of several less complex goods, which can also be created out of even less complex ones. In result, goods and the buildings that produce them form whole production chains.
It is possible to calculate the perfect ratios of buildings within a chain, based on their production rates and knowing that to produce 1 ton of a product always 1 ton of every required resource is consumed. Such calculation is briefly described on the Production page, while this page lists all regular production chains, along with the ratios of buildings, the construction and maintenance costs, and other relevant information.
Perfect ratios included on the wiki indicate how many buildings should be constructed in order to maintain perfect balance of goods within the chain - avoiding any shortages or excess production. However, it is important to keep in mind that sticking to those ratios is not always a good choice. For example, the full Steel Beams chain has high workforce and maintenance costs, especially unfavourable during early stages of the game. The perfect ratio suggests having 2 Furnaces and 3 Steelworks, while early on the output of just 1 Furnace and 1 Steelworks can be enough. Another good example is the Canned Food chain - when having low numbers of artisans just 1 Artisanal Kitchen and 1 Cannery might be enough. In many situations starting with fewer buildings, thus decreasing maintenance and workforce costs, can be more profitable than maintaining proper production balance.
The use of items and other modifiers can significantly change favourable ratios of buildings within chains - it is recommended to keep an eye on the production tab of the statistics menu, which helps with balancing production of different goods and chains. Alternatively, there are also many needs calculators available, which can determine the numbers of buildings appropriate for the current needs.
For an overview of the profitability of production chains which involve consumer goods, see: Profitability of Consumer Goods.
Overview of the production chains
The Old World
Farmers
Timber
Timber
Fish
Fish
Supplies:
• 80 Farmers Residences (up to 800 Farmers)
• or 40 Workers Residences (up to 800 Workers)
Schnapps
Schnapps
Supplies:
• 60 Farmers Residences (up to 600 Farmers)
• or 30 Workers Residences (up to 600 Workers)
• or 133,3 Explorers Residences (up to 1333 Explorers)
• or 66,7 Technicians Residences (up to 1333 Technicians)
• or 30 Hacienda Jornalero Quarters (up to 600 Jornaleros)
Work Clothes
Work Clothes
Supplies:
• 65 Farmers Residences (up to 650 Farmers)
• or 32,5 Workers Residences (up to 650 Workers)
Workers
Bricks
Bricks
Sausages
Sausages
Supplies:
• 50 Workers Residences (up to 1000 Workers)
• or 25 Artisans Residences (up to 750 Artisans)
Bread
Bread
Supplies:
• 110 Workers Residences (up to 2200 Workers)
• or 55 Artisans Residences (up to 1650 Artisans)
• or 4 Hotels (up to 2000 Tourists)
Sails
Sails
Steel Beams
Steel Beams
★ The Charcoal Kilns may be replaced with a Coal Mine
for -10 -30 +10 +400 +4 -5
Soap
Soap
Supplies:
• 240 Workers Residences (up to 4800 Workers)
• or 120 Artisans Residences (up to 3600 Artisans)
Weapons
Weapons
★ The Charcoal Kilns may be replaced with a Coal Mine
for -10 -30 +10 +400 +4 -5
Beer
Beer
Supplies:
• 130 Workers Residences (up to 2600 Workers)
• or 65 Artisans Residences (up to 1950 Artisans)
• or 75 Obreros Residences (up to 1500 Obreros)
Artisans
Windows
Windows
Canned Food
Canned Food
Supplies:
• 390 Artisans Residences (up to 11700 Artisans)
• or 195 Engineers Residences (up to 7800 Engineers)
• or 66,7 Scholars Residences (up to 8000 Scholars)
• or 333,3 Technicians Residences (up to 6666 Technicians)
Sewing Machines
Sewing Machines
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 140 Artisans Residences (up to 4200 Artisans)
• or 70 Engineers Residences (up to 2800 Engineers)
• or 160 Obreros Residences (up to 3200 Obreros)
Fur Coats
Fur Coats
Supplies:
• 75 Artisans Residences (up to 2250 Artisans)
• or 37,5 Engineers Residences (up to 1500 Engineers)
• or 2 Hotels (up to 1000 Tourists)
Engineers
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced Concrete
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Glasses
Glasses
Supplies:
• 225 Engineers Residences (up to 9000 Engineers)
• or 112,5 Investors Residences (up to 5625 Investors)
• or 277,8 Elders Residences (up to 5555 Elders)
Advanced Weapons
Advanced Weapons
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Penny Farthings
Penny Farthings
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 160 Engineers Residences (up to 6400 Engineers)
• or 80 Investors Residences (up to 4000 Investors)
Steam Motors
Steam Motors
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Pocket Watches
Pocket Watches
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 510 Engineers Residences (up to 20400 Engineers)
• or 255 Investors Residences (up to 12750 Investors)
Light Bulbs
Light Bulbs
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 320 Engineers Residences (up to 12800 Engineers)
• or 160 Investors Residences (up to 8000 Investors)
Tourists
Jam
Supplies:
• 2 Hotels (up to 1000 Tourists)
Shampoo
Supplies:
• 4 Hotels (up to 2000 Tourists)
Lemonade
Supplies:
• 2 Hotels (up to 1000 Tourists)
Souvenirs
Supplies:
• 1 Hotels (up to 500 Tourists)
Investors
Champagne
Champagne
Supplies:
• 85 Investors Residences (up to 4250 Investors)
Jewellery
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 190 Investors Residences (up to 9500 Investors)
• or 4 Hotels (up to 2000 Tourists)
Gramophones
Gramophones
Supplies:
• 760 Investors Residences (up to 38000 Investors)
• or 95,2 Scholars Residences (up to 11428 Scholars)
Steam Carriages
Steam Carriages
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Supplies:
• 600 Investor Residences (up to 30000 Investors)
The High Life DLC
Elevators
Chewing Gum
Biscuits
Cognac
Ethanol
Celluloid
Lacquer
Typewriters
Billiard Tables
Violins
Toys
Scholars
Leather Boots
Supplies:
• 8,3 Scholars Residences (up to 1000 Scholars)
Tailored Suits
Supplies:
• 12,12 Scholars Residences (up to 1454 Scholars)
Telephones
Supplies:
• 44,4 Scholars Residences (up to 5333 Scholars)
Advanced Coffee
Supplies:
• 170 Obreros Residences (up to 3400 Obreros)
• or 42,5 Engineers Residences (up to 1700 Engineers)
• or 21,25 Investors Residences (up to 1062,5 Investors)
• or 83,3 Technicians Residences (up to 1666 Technicians)
Advanced Rum
Supplies:
• 280 Jornaleros Residences (up to 2800 Jornaleros)
• or 140 Obreros Residences (up to 2800 Obreros)
• or 70 Artisans Residences (up to 2100 Artisans)
• or 35 Engineers Residences (up to 1400 Engineers)
• or 83,3 Scholars Residences (up to 10000 Scholars)
Advanced Cotton Fabric
Empire of the Skies
Bombs (Old World)
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Sea Mines (Old World)
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Pamphlets (Old World)
Care Packages (Old World)
Water Drop (Old World)
The New World
Jornaleros
Timber
Timber
Fried Plantains
Fried Plantains
Supplies:
• 70 Jornaleros Residences (up to 700 Jornaleros)
• or 35 Obreros Residences (up to 700 Obreros)
Sails
Sails
Rum
Rum
Supplies:
• 280 Jornaleros Residences (up to 2800 Jornaleros)
• or 140 Obreros Residences (up to 2800 Obreros)
• or 70 Artisans Residences (up to 2100 Artisans)
• or 35 Engineers Residences (up to 1400 Engineers)
• or 83,3 Scholars Residences (up to 10000 Scholars)
Ponchos
Ponchos
Supplies:
• 80 Jornaleros Residences (up to 800 Jornaleros)
• or 40 Obreros Residences (up to 800 Obreros)
Obreros
Bricks
Bricks
Tortillas
Tortillas
Supplies:
• 70 Obreros Residences (up to 1400 Obreros)
Coffee
Coffee
Supplies:
• 170 Obreros Residences (up to 3400 Obreros)
• or 42,5 Engineers Residences (up to 1700 Engineers)
• or 21,25 Investors Residences (up to 1062,5 Investors)
• or 83,3 Technicians Residences (up to 1666 Technicians)
Bowler Hats
Bowler Hats
Supplies:
• 75 Obreros Residences (up to 1500 Obreros)
• or 41,7 Scholars Residences (up to 5000 Scholars)
Cigars
Cigars
Supplies:
• 360 Obreros Residences (up to 7200 Obreros)
• or 180 Investors Residences (up to 9000 Investors)
Chocolate
Chocolate
Supplies:
• 37,5 Investors Residences (up to 1875 Investors)
Artistas
Sewing Machines (New World)
Supplies:
• 420 Artisans Residences (up to 12600 Artisans)
• or 210 Engineers Residences (up to 8400 Engineers)
• or 480 Obreros Residences (up to 9600 Obreros)
• or 480 Artistas Residences (up to 19200 Artistas)
Soccer Balls
Supplies:
• 80 Artistas Residences (up to 3200 Artistas)
Mezcal
Supplies:
• 35 Artistas Residences (up to 1400 Artistas)
Jalea
Supplies:
• 60.6 Artistas Residences (up to 2424 Artistas)
Ice Cream
Supplies:
• 1112.34 Artistas Residences (up to 44493.6 Artistas)
Fire Department
Perfumes
Supplies:
• 80 Artistas Residences (up to 3200 Artistas)
Samba School
Police Headquarters
Fans
Supplies:
• 3846.15 Artistas Residences (up to 153846 Artistas)
Cinema
City Hospital
Scooter
Supplies:
• 2300 Artistas Residences (up to 92000 Artistas)
Seeds of Change DLC
Hot Sauce
Supplies:
• 20 Hacienda Jornalero Quarters (up to 400 Jornaleros)
• or 17.5 Hacienda Obrera Quarters (up to 700 Obreros)
Atole
Supplies:
• 17.5 Hacienda Obrera Quarters (up to 700 Obreros)
Rum
Supplies:
• 280 Jornaleros Residences (up to 2800 Jornaleros)
• or 140 Obreros Residences (up to 2800 Obreros)
• or 70 Artisans Residences (up to 2100 Artisans)
• or 35 Engineers Residences (up to 1400 Engineers)
• or 83,3 Scholars Residences (up to 10000 Scholars)
Schnapps
Supplies:
• 60 Farmers Residences (up to 600 Farmers)
• or 30 Workers Residences (up to 600 Workers)
• or 133,3 Explorers Residences (up to 1333 Explorers)
• or 66,7 Technicians Residences (up to 1333 Technicians)
• or 30 Hacienda Jornalero Quarters (up to 600 Jornaleros)
Beer
Supplies:
• 65 Workers Residences (up to 1300 Workers)
• or 32.5 Artisans Residences (up to 975 Artisans)
• or 37.5 Obreros Residences (up to 750 Obreros)
Empire of the Skies
Aluminium Profiles
Helium
Bombs (New World)
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Sea Mines (New World)
★ The Coal Mine may be replaced with two Charcoal Kilns
for +10 +30 -10 -400 -4 +5
Pamphlets (New World)
Care Packages (New World)
Water Drop (New World)
The Arctic
Explorers
Timber
Pemmican
Supplies:
• 83,3 Explorers Residences (up to 833 Explorers)
• or 41,7 Technicians Residences (up to 833 Technicians)
Sleeping Bags
Supplies:
• 222 Explorers Residences (up to 2220 Explorers)
• or 111 Technicians Residences (up to 2220 Technicians)
Oil Lamps
Supplies:
• 333,3 Explorers Residences (up to 3333 Explorers)
• or 166,7 Technicians Residences (up to 3333 Technicians)
Technicians
Parkas
Supplies:
• 83,3 Technicians Residences (up to 1666 Technicians)
Husky Sleds
Supplies:
• 222 Technicians Residences (up to 4444 Technicians)
Enbesa
Shepherds
Wanza Timber
Goat Milk
Supplies:
• 33,3 Shepherds Residences (up to 333 Shepherds)
• or 16,7 Elders Residences (up to 333 Elders)
Finery
Supplies:
• 133,3 Shepherds Residences (up to 1333 Shepherds)
• or 66,7 Elders Residences (up to 1333 Elders)
Dried Meat
Supplies:
• 95,24 Shepherds Residences (up to 952 Shepherds)
• or 47,62 Elders Residences (up to 952 Elders)
Hibiscus Tea
Supplies:
• 166,7 Shepherds Residences (up to 1666 Shepherds)
• or 83,3 Elders Residences (up to 1666 Elders)
• or 19,04 Scholars Residences (up to 2285 Scholars)
Elders
Mud Bricks
Ceramics
Supplies:
• 166,7 Elders Residences (up to 3333 Elders)
Tapestries
Supplies:
• 95,24 Elders Residences (up to 1904 Elders)
• or 26,7 Scholars Residences (up to 3200 Scholars)
Seafood Stew
Supplies:
• 90,1 Elders Residences (up to 1801 Elders)
• or 22,2 Scholars Residences (up to 2666 Scholars)
Clay Pipes
Supplies:
• 444,4 Elders Residences (up to 8888 Elders)
• or 88,9 Scholars Residences (up to 10666 Scholars)
Illuminated Script
Supplies:
• 370,3 Elders Residences (up to 7407 Elders)
Lanterns
Supplies:
• 111,1 Elders Residences (up to 2222 Elders)