diff --git a/App/pelagia-portal/app/api/po/[id]/export/route.ts b/App/pelagia-portal/app/api/po/[id]/export/route.ts
index d5ca79f..d86800e 100644
--- a/App/pelagia-portal/app/api/po/[id]/export/route.ts
+++ b/App/pelagia-portal/app/api/po/[id]/export/route.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,16 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest, { params }: Props) {
     return NextResponse.json({ error: "Forbidden" }, { status: 403 });
   }
 
+  // Exports are only available for approved POs — manager approval is a prerequisite for a valid PO document.
+  // The submitter's signature is never embedded; only the approving manager's signature is used.
+  const EXPORTABLE_STATUSES = ["MGR_APPROVED", "SENT_FOR_PAYMENT", "PAID_DELIVERED", "PARTIALLY_CLOSED", "CLOSED"];
+  if (!EXPORTABLE_STATUSES.includes(po.status)) {
+    return NextResponse.json(
+      { error: "Export is only available for approved purchase orders." },
+      { status: 403 }
+    );
+  }
+
   const format = request.nextUrl.searchParams.get("format") ?? "pdf";
 
   // ── Computed data ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -386,10 +396,10 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest, { params }: Props) {
       });
       sc(SIG_ROW,     1, "", { border: { top: thin(), left: thin(), right: thin() } });
     } else {
-      sc(SIG_ROW,     1, approvedBy || po.submitter.name, { font: fBold, border: { top: thin(), left: thin(), right: thin() }, align: alignC });
+      sc(SIG_ROW,     1, approvedBy, { font: fBold, border: { top: thin(), left: thin(), right: thin() }, align: alignC });
     }
     ws.mergeCells(`A${SIG_ROW}:D${SIG_ROW}`);
-    sc(SIG_ROW + 1, 1, approvedBy || po.submitter.name, { font: fBold, border: { left: thin(), right: thin() }, align: alignC });
+    sc(SIG_ROW + 1, 1, approvedBy, { font: fBold, border: { left: thin(), right: thin() }, align: alignC });
     ws.mergeCells(`A${SIG_ROW + 1}:D${SIG_ROW + 1}`);
     sc(SIG_ROW + 2, 1, "Authorized Signatory & Stamp", { font: fSmall, border: { left: thin(), right: thin() }, align: alignC });
     ws.mergeCells(`A${SIG_ROW + 2}:D${SIG_ROW + 2}`);
@@ -675,10 +685,10 @@ export async function GET(request: NextRequest, { params }: Props) {
   <div class="sig-box">
     ${signatureBase64
       ? `<img src="data:${signatureMime};base64,${signatureBase64}" alt="Signature" style="max-height:48px;max-width:180px;object-fit:contain;display:block;margin:0 auto 4px;" />`
-      : `<div class="sig-name">${approvedBy || po.submitter.name}</div>`
+      : `<div class="sig-name">${approvedBy}</div>`
     }
     <div>
-      <div class="sig-sub" style="font-weight:bold">${approvedBy || po.submitter.name}</div>
+      <div class="sig-sub" style="font-weight:bold">${approvedBy}</div>
       <div class="sig-sub">Authorized Signatory &amp; Stamp</div>
       <div class="sig-sub">For, Pelagia Marine Services Pvt. Ltd.</div>
     </div>
diff --git a/App/pelagia-portal/components/po/po-detail.tsx b/App/pelagia-portal/components/po/po-detail.tsx
index 265089f..575380e 100644
--- a/App/pelagia-portal/components/po/po-detail.tsx
+++ b/App/pelagia-portal/components/po/po-detail.tsx
@@ -183,20 +183,23 @@ export async function PoDetail({ po, currentUserId, currentRole, readOnly = fals
             !readOnly && (
             <DiscardDraftButton poId={po.id} />
           )}
-          <a
-            href={`/api/po/${po.id}/export?format=pdf`}
-            target="_blank"
-            rel="noopener noreferrer"
-            className="rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-50"
-          >
-            Export PDF
-          </a>
-          <a
-            href={`/api/po/${po.id}/export?format=xlsx`}
-            className="rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-50"
-          >
-            Export XLSX
-          </a>
+          {/* Export buttons — only available once the PO has been approved by a manager */}
+          {["MGR_APPROVED", "SENT_FOR_PAYMENT", "PAID_DELIVERED", "PARTIALLY_CLOSED", "CLOSED"].includes(po.status) && (<>
+            <a
+              href={`/api/po/${po.id}/export?format=pdf`}
+              target="_blank"
+              rel="noopener noreferrer"
+              className="rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-50"
+            >
+              Export PDF
+            </a>
+            <a
+              href={`/api/po/${po.id}/export?format=xlsx`}
+              className="rounded-lg border border-neutral-300 bg-white px-3 py-2 text-sm font-medium text-neutral-700 hover:bg-neutral-50"
+            >
+              Export XLSX
+            </a>
+          </>)}
         </div>
       </div>