diff --git a/lambdas/po/email_processor/handler.py b/lambdas/po/email_processor/handler.py
index ceb1f00..ed1c527 100644
--- a/lambdas/po/email_processor/handler.py
+++ b/lambdas/po/email_processor/handler.py
@@ -387,32 +387,92 @@ def enrich_parsed(parsed: dict, s3_key: str, email_subject: str):
     return parsed
 
 
-def save_new_po(parsed: dict):
-    """Insert a new PO into DynamoDB. Skips if po_number already exists."""
-    table = dynamodb.Table(PO_TABLE)
-    item = {k: v for k, v in parsed.items() if v is not None}
+def _merge_update(po_number: str, fields: dict):
+    """Apply a merge (SET-only) update of the given fields onto a PO record.
 
-    try:
-        table.put_item(
-            Item=item,
-            ConditionExpression="attribute_not_exists(po_number)",
+    Only the fields supplied are written; absent fields are left untouched, so a
+    partial payload can never delete data that an earlier email established. The
+    record is created if it does not exist (DynamoDB update_item upsert).
+    """
+    table = dynamodb.Table(PO_TABLE)
+
+    set_parts = []
+    attr_names = {}
+    attr_values = {}
+    for key, value in fields.items():
+        if value is None or key == "po_number":
+            continue
+        name_ph = f"#{key}"
+        val_ph = f":{key}"
+        attr_names[name_ph] = key
+        attr_values[val_ph] = value
+        set_parts.append(f"{name_ph} = {val_ph}")
+
+    if not set_parts:
+        return
+
+    table.update_item(
+        Key={"po_number": po_number},
+        UpdateExpression="SET " + ", ".join(set_parts),
+        ExpressionAttributeNames=attr_names,
+        ExpressionAttributeValues=attr_values,
+    )
+
+
+def _is_cancelled(po_number: str) -> bool:
+    """Return True if the PO already exists with a Cancelled status."""
+    table = dynamodb.Table(PO_TABLE)
+    existing = table.get_item(Key={"po_number": po_number}).get("Item")
+    return bool(existing) and existing.get("po_status") == "Cancelled"
+
+
+def save_new_po(parsed: dict):
+    """Create a PO, merging into any pre-existing record.
+
+    Uses a merge update rather than a conditional put so that an out-of-order
+    cancellation (which leaves a Cancelled skeleton) is filled in with the full
+    PO data instead of the new_po being silently dropped. The cancellation marker
+    (po_status=Cancelled, cancelled_at) is preserved; new_po data backfills the
+    remaining fields.
+    """
+    po_number = parsed["po_number"]
+    fields = {k: v for k, v in parsed.items() if v is not None}
+    if _is_cancelled(po_number):
+        # Preserve the cancellation: don't overwrite po_status/cancelled_at.
+        fields.pop("po_status", None)
+        fields.pop("cancelled_at", None)
+        logger.info(
+            f"PO {po_number} was cancelled before new_po arrived; "
+            f"backfilling data and keeping Cancelled status"
         )
-        logger.info(f"Created PO {parsed['po_number']}")
-    except dynamodb.meta.client.exceptions.ConditionalCheckFailedException:
-        logger.info(f"PO {parsed['po_number']} already exists, skipping insert")
+
+    _merge_update(po_number, fields)
+    logger.info(f"Created/merged PO {po_number}")
 
 
 def save_revision(parsed: dict):
-    """Update an existing PO with revised data, or insert if it doesn't exist yet."""
-    table = dynamodb.Table(PO_TABLE)
-    item = {k: v for k, v in parsed.items() if v is not None}
+    """Merge revised data into an existing PO without deleting omitted fields.
 
-    table.put_item(Item=item)
-    logger.info(f"Revised PO {parsed['po_number']}")
+    A revision email often omits unchanged sections (line_items, supplier). The
+    previous full-overwrite put_item permanently dropped those. This SETs only the
+    fields present in the revision, leaving everything else intact.
+    """
+    po_number = parsed["po_number"]
+    fields = {k: v for k, v in parsed.items() if v is not None}
+    if _is_cancelled(po_number):
+        # A revision must not silently un-cancel a PO.
+        fields.pop("po_status", None)
+    _merge_update(po_number, fields)
+    logger.info(f"Revised PO {po_number}")
 
 
 def save_cancellation(parsed: dict):
-    """Update an existing PO's status to Cancelled."""
+    """Mark a PO Cancelled, creating a minimal skeleton if it doesn't exist yet.
+
+    If the cancellation arrives before the new_po, the skeleton it creates is
+    later backfilled by save_new_po (which preserves this Cancelled status), so no
+    PO data is lost on out-of-order delivery.
+    """
     table = dynamodb.Table(PO_TABLE)
 
     table.update_item(