Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 120,315	$ 163,532	$ 191,867
Accounts receivable, net	290,234	468,015	329,120
Advances to suppliers, net	106,563	134,621	120,443
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	342	7,375	776
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	1,011,234	639,812	841,834
Other	74,791	67,219	74,377
Prepaid income taxes	13,842	27,866	28,015
Deferred income taxes	40,588	22,052	24,438
Other current assets	80,683	142,755	127,086
Total current assets	1,738,592	1,673,247	1,737,956
Property, plant and equipment
Land	16,868	17,275	17,249
Buildings	239,177	239,913	239,194
Machinery and equipment	580,026	562,597	565,985
Total property, plant and equipment	836,071	819,785	822,428
Less: accumulated depreciation	(530,731)	(523,239)	(531,696)
Property, plant and equipment, net	305,340	296,546	290,732
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	99,220	99,453	99,537
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	82,341	95,305	95,095
Deferred income taxes	12,358	14,562	27,760
Other noncurrent assets	60,975	91,794	89,349
Total other assets	254,894	301,114	311,741
Total assets	2,298,826	2,270,907	2,340,429
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	116,771	62,905	72,341
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	146,516	212,422	196,255
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	12,500	65	32,216
Customer advances and deposits	65,450	15,869	59,779
Accrued compensation	20,469	31,772	23,905
Income taxes payable	12,596	15,694	15,741
Current portion of long-term obligations	0	116,250	115,000
Total current liabilities	374,302	454,977	515,237
Long-term obligations	370,000	240,000	245,000
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	73,052	85,081	92,762
Other long-term liabilities	34,077	34,457	36,348
Deferred income taxes	42,843	45,500	59,772
Total liabilities	894,274	860,015	949,119
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,839,717 shares issued and outstanding (23,216,312 at December 31, 2013 and 23,216,312 at March 31, 2014)	205,699	206,446	204,104
Retained earnings	997,380	993,093	982,109
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(47,168)	(34,332)	(40,135)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,368,544	1,378,230	1,359,101
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	36,008	32,662	32,209
Total shareholders' equity	1,404,552	1,410,892	1,391,310
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,298,826	2,270,907	2,340,429
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	0	0	0
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	$ 212,633	$ 213,023	$ 213,023