Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 271,472		$ 433,528
Costs and Expenses
Cost of goods sold	215,932		362,060
Selling, general and administrative expenses	63,777		66,619
Other income	0	[1]	(81,619)	[1]
Operating income (loss)	(8,237)		86,468
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	601	[2]	1,529	[2]
Interest income	143		261
Interest expense	4,020		5,306
Income (loss) before income taxes	(11,513)		82,952
Income tax expense (benefit)	(12,038)		29,039
Net income	525		53,913
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	192		4,396
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation	717		58,309
Dividends on Universal Corporation convertible perpetual preferred stock	(3,712)		(3,712)
Earnings (loss) available to Universal Corporation common shareholders	(2,995)		54,597
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to Universal Corporation common shareholders:
Basic	$ (0.13)		$ 2.34
Diluted	$ (0.13)		$ 2.05
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	23,223,343		23,316,764
Diluted	23,223,343		28,465,354
Total comprehensive income:
Total comprehensive income, net of income taxes	1,349		55,417
Less: comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income taxes	(52)		4,722
Comprehensive income attributable to Universal Corporation, net of income taxes	$ 1,297		$ 60,139
Dividends declared per common share	$ 0.51		$ 0.50

[1] Other income represents the gain on the favorable outcome of the IPI tax credit case in Brazil. This item is excluded from segment operating income, but is included in consolidated operating income in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.

[2] Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is included in segment operating income (Other Tobacco Operations segment), but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income.