Is inventory an asset or liability?

Basically Inventory is valuated an asset. You keep inventory to service your customers and to smoothen production by purchasing semi-finished stuff. Inventory ties up your working capital hence the objective is to return your investment as soon as possible. A good measurement is the ratio of inventory turnover. Inventory becomes a liability when the life cycle ends either by becoming obsolete/discontinued or by means of expiry. Write offs are valuated as liabilities.