No, destroying trade ships does effect the total trade incom of the trade port from which the ship comes from.

The trade port generates a base amount of credits that can't be changed. But I think the trade ships also add to the amount it earns. I think so, though I havent tested it, because when you first build two trade ports, the amount of incom they generate slowly goes up to a certain amount as more trade ships are built and sent on their way.

I dont know how many trade ships you need to destroy in order to alter the amount earned, but I do think destroying trade ships does do something.

But then for say a really long trade route, there would be no way to shut it off completely, because trade ships would keep getting built, and even though none of them were getting through the trade income would float at about half the regular? I really hope that's not so because that makes cutting off a trade lane not nearly as useful as it should be.

The trade ports function more or less like the always have. They produce trade ships, which carry trade goods, and you receive a lump sum of cash when the trade ships arrive at their destination. They've just been converted into (approimate) credits per second values for ease of use.

And "cutting" a trade route can gain you quite a bit -- not only does your enemy loose the cash from the ships you destroy, but you gain cash from it.

Ron: Why did the devs take out info on how much each trade ship is carrying individually then? And do you mean to say that if it does still work as it always has, that whoever destroys the trade ship gets that lump sum, or a portion of it? Or are you just referring to bounty?