A pinch-point is the level of inventories of a commodity or product below which consumers of that commodity or product become concerned about security of supply.
When inventories are below the pinch-point, small changes in the balance of supply and demand can cause large changes in the price of the commodity or product.
[1][2] The term was suggested in 1988 by Walter Curlook (Executive Vice-President of Inco Ltd) and was first published by Raymond Goldie with Rob Maiman in 1990.
[1] In 2000 Raymond Goldie trademarked the term.
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