diff --git a/src/app/(app)/orders/[id]/process/page.tsx b/src/app/(app)/orders/[id]/process/page.tsx
index 8234358..58e09f2 100644
--- a/src/app/(app)/orders/[id]/process/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/(app)/orders/[id]/process/page.tsx
@@ -473,6 +473,25 @@ export default function ProcessOrderPage({ params }: { params: Promise<{ id: str
     try {
       const pb = getPocketBase();
 
+      // Determine whether this save should transition the item
+      // from `pending` to `processed`. The buyer-tasks page
+      // (`/orders/tasks`) filters Needs PO by
+      //   `item_status = "processed" && purchase_order = ""`,
+      // so a priced item with no supplier/cost/PO description
+      // shouldn't surface there yet. Once all three fields are
+      // filled we promote it. Items already past `processed`
+      // (stock_booked, po_generated, ready_delivery, etc.) are
+      // never downgraded by this save.
+      const currentItem = items.find((it) => it.id === itemId);
+      const isReadyForBuyer =
+        committed.supplier.trim() !== "" &&
+        committed.cost_price > 0 &&
+        committed.po_description.trim() !== "";
+      const nextStatus =
+        currentItem?.item_status === "pending" && isReadyForBuyer
+          ? "processed"
+          : currentItem?.item_status;
+
       // v3 stock-out flow (Stream E). When the operator has
       // toggled the line into "fulfill from stock" mode, the
       // standard order_item update path is wrong — it would
@@ -506,6 +525,12 @@ export default function ProcessOrderPage({ params }: { params: Promise<{ id: str
           pricing_source: committed.pricing_source || null,
           matched_price_list_id: committed.matched_price_list_id || null,
           pricing_notes: committed.pricing_notes || null,
+          // Stock-fulfil path: the subsequent /api/v1/stock/fulfill
+          // call will overwrite this with stock_booked before the
+          // buyer ever sees the row on the buyer-tasks page, so
+          // promoting to processed here is harmless and keeps the
+          // row coherent if the stock call fails.
+          item_status: nextStatus,
         });
         // Step 2: stock-fulfil call (mode: "update"). The
         // route PATCHes the order_item with stock-fulfil
@@ -587,6 +612,12 @@ export default function ProcessOrderPage({ params }: { params: Promise<{ id: str
           supplier: committed.supplier || null,
           in_stock: committed.in_stock,
           notes: committed.notes,
+          // Promote pending → processed when the operator has
+          // filled supplier + cost + PO description. This is the
+          // gate that makes the item visible on the buyer-tasks
+          // Needs PO tab. Items already past `processed` keep
+          // their current status (no downgrade).
+          item_status: nextStatus,
           // Pricing audit trail — round-trip from quote_item when copied,
           // or stay blank when the operator typed manually. The price
           // sheet exposes these fields; the Quote Source panel displays