PSA Card Backlog Drops to 11.85 Million After Reaching 12.4 Million

PSA’s active trading card backlog has fallen to 11.85 million units, reversing some of the increase reported two weeks ago as the grading company continues working through millions of submissions.

PSA disclosed the new total in its August 11 Backlog Tracker update, down from 12.4 million units on July 28. That represents a decrease of approximately 550,000 cards, or about 4.4 percent, over the two-week period.

The decline follows a sharp increase reported late last month. As CollectiblesNews.com reported on July 28, PSA’s backlog had jumped from 11 million units on July 14 to 12.4 million, an increase of 1.4 million cards in two weeks.

At the time, PSA attributed the increase to higher submission volume in its more expensive service tiers, packages arriving during the 45-day eligibility window following its initial service-tier shutdown, and convention-season submissions. The latest update brings some evidence that PSA is beginning to make progress against that surge.

PSA said July set another company record for total monthly graded units, surpassing the previous record established in June. The company said it continues to make progress against its weekly and monthly processing goals. The backlog, however, remains above the 11 million units PSA reported on July 14 and well above the company’s longer-term target.

PSA temporarily paused its Value service tiers on June 2 after a 20 percent spike in submissions pushed its backlog toward 10 million units. Following another wave of incoming submissions, PSA previously projected that it could take five to six months to reduce the backlog to its target of 5 million units.

The company has also been increasing its grading capacity. PSA opened its fifth full grading facility in Plano, Texas, in July, which it said would immediately increase processing capacity. The expansion is part of a broader $200 million investment in facilities, technology and staffing.

PSA has said the reopening of its paused Value tiers will be tied to operational milestones rather than a specific date.

The company’s backlog has fluctuated considerably this summer. PSA reported approximately 12 million units on June 30, 11 million on July 14, 12.4 million on July 28 and now 11.85 million as of August 11..