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Stock of commodities held by an international organization that will aim to stabilize prices and supplies by buying and selling from its stockpile.
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buffer stock UK US noun [C or U]
► ECONOMICS, FINANCE a large supply of a commodity (= a crop, metal, fuel, etc.) that is bought and stored when extra is available, and sold when there is not enough, in order to control its price and quantity in the economy: »
Rubber prices fell to a four-year low, despite purchases for the buffer stock.
► COMMERCE, PRODUCTION extra products, supplies, etc that a company keeps, so it always has enough available to sell or use: »
Management wants to keep a buffer stock of 500 units.
Financial and business terms. 2012.