Just even a few more bases in existing systems would probably help trade routes, yeah, maybe being devoted to manufacturing new commodities.
for example, Planetform could start making any number of planets in new systems hospitable, and they could mine something rare and all link together via trading.
Ageria and DSE really take too long to build their new jumpgates, but there is potential for new jumpgate building sites, a new jumpgate would open another system to lawful factions that dont use jumpholes, and access to the resources within. (think tau-31 gate construction site and java station) and yeah maybe new commodities or just creating new routes for existing ones.
and theres potential for further corporation expansion in Pennsylvania, Ontario, Munich and such, they are House systems, it makes sense corporations would make use of them.
I mean, there's all that helium in Pennsylvania with no NPC faction mining it?
Edit: just remembered it's too cold to mine in there, also, the miners would have hilarious voices