PSA Backlog Reportedly Falls to 7.2 Million; Value Reopening Date Unannounced

PSA’s grading backlog has fallen to 7.2 million cards, according to an October 20 report from Heavy citing the company’s Backlog Tracker. The reported total is down from 8.2 million on 6 October, a reduction of one million cards in two weeks.

That is meaningful progress for collectors waiting for lower-cost submission options. However, the same report says PSA has not announced a reopening date for its paused Value services. A smaller queue should not be mistaken for confirmation that those tiers are available again.

The queue is shrinking, but remains substantial

Heavy reports that the backlog peaked at approximately 12.4 million cards on 28 July. Its October 20 figure represents a decline of 5.2 million cards from that peak, or nearly 42%.

PSA’s own tracker explains that it is updated every two weeks using data reviewed by management. The company’s October 6 update had confirmed the previous 8.2-million total and described continued output across six global hubs.

Heavy also reports that PSA intends to prioritise existing orders while reopening services in phases. Those statements describe an operational approach, not a guaranteed completion date for any individual submission.

Value tiers still have no reopening date

The October 20 coverage says Value, Value Bulk, Value Plus and Value Max remain without an announced reopening date. It identifies approximately five million cards as a previously stated operational target for restoring cheaper options—not an unconditional reopening promise.

According to Heavy, Standard remains the cheapest broadly available option, at approximately AED 220.31 per card. For historical comparison, the report lists pre-pause Value pricing equivalent to approximately AED 121.16 and Value Bulk pricing equivalent to approximately AED 91.78.

These are currency conversions using 1 USD = AED 3.6725, not UAE all-inclusive submission quotations. The historical prices should not be treated as currently available offers or as confirmed prices for any eventual relaunch.

What it means for collectors

For UAE collectors planning a submission, the useful distinction is between backlog progress and service availability. The latest report supports the former; it does not establish a restart date for budget grading.

Before sending cards, check which tier is actually accepting submissions and obtain a complete quotation. Avoid building a sale deadline around an assumed reopening or turnaround: an improving company-wide backlog is not a delivery commitment for a particular card.