Well I can estimate a few reasons why it is rising. However its difficult to say for sure considering there may be some level of market speculation at play. However, here is my analysis.

From what I can see moon materials are currently increasing in price as the supply has outstripped demand in the recent past. There are a few reasons for this as I will detail...

The following factors are putting pressure on supply of moon materials...

1. The disruption caused by the release of Rhea is being keenly felt in the market now as the shifting of alliances and space caused many existing moon mining operations to cease as space changed hands. While this is a relatively short term blip in supply with new operations replacing those that ended, it could be extended by future changes to sov.
2. Phobe's effects will have a minor pressure on prices as it limited the safe movement of goods from null to empire increasing the capital requirement for participation in profitable moon mining (need JF, carrier will no longer work). This would affect any small operation, which can have a noticeable combined effect on supply since without a JF, transportation costs must be factored into the equation, and capital will be tied up longer.

The following are putting upward pressure on demand of moon materials

1. Crius changes are being more keenly felt now as more producers of T2 products have entered the market. This has caused margins on T2 materials to tighten and has increased the demand for the advanced moon materials required to build the items
2. Supply may still be in the process of catching up from the seasonal dip in market activity in Jan/mid-feb where prices dropped due to a surplus of the materials on the market combined with a decrease in demand. Most T2 ships dropped in price significantly in that period, and have begun to rise again.

Please note, the above is from my observations of the market as my primary operation is in the production of T2 ships.

I would also note that I expect the prices of Advanced moon materials to rise in the near future. This is because the production of advanced moon materials is currently of negligible profitability, with most refining operations at a loss. Only one is of significant profitability at about 800 mil profit per month and requires the maintenance of four POS and a significant amount of capital. The next best I can find is under 100 mil profit in a month, which is not worth the work required to maintain them, and the capital required to sustain the operation.

However due to the complexity of advanced moon material production, you will find that its effects will be felt around now and in the future as more corps review the profitability of their operations, and make a business decision to cease operations in advanced moon refining until the prices correct itself.

I could explain it all but lets be real. There might be like 3 people that read this forum that would even understand that beyond us.

Personally, I think moon goo mining is fine the way it is. However to maintain a level of control, when the price of minerals reaches a particular rate a temporary spawning of moon goo occurs allowing a somewhat mechanic to keep things balanced.

I could explain it all but lets be real. There might be like 3 people that read this forum that would even understand that beyond us.