Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 319,447	$ 248,783
Accounts receivable, net	428,659	434,362
Advances to suppliers, net	101,890	114,883
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	2,316	1,907
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	637,132	636,488
Other	60,888	62,195
Prepaid income taxes	17,814	17,811
Other current assets	70,400	81,570
Total current assets	1,638,546	1,597,999
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,987	16,790
Buildings	264,838	238,372
Machinery and equipment	591,327	576,010
Total property, plant and equipment	879,152	831,172
Less accumulated depreciation	(553,265)	(525,783)
Property, plant and equipment, net	325,887	305,389
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	99,071	99,146
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	82,441	76,512
Deferred income taxes	23,853	32,888
Other noncurrent assets	62,999	76,515
Total other assets	268,364	285,061
Total assets	2,232,797	2,188,449
Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Notes payable and overdrafts	66,179	59,862
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	120,527	140,112
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	8,343	3,281
Customer advances and deposits	16,438	30,183
Accrued compensation	27,593	28,232
Income taxes payable	7,190	6,559
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	246,270	268,229
Long-term debt	370,000	370,000
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	92,177	97,048
Other long-term liabilities	41,794	36,790
Deferred income taxes	29,494	19,288
Total liabilities	779,735	791,355
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,717,735 shares issued and outstanding (22,593,266 at March 31, 2015)	208,946	206,002
Retained earnings	1,066,064	1,020,155
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(72,350)	(74,994)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,414,222	1,362,725
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	38,840	34,369
Total shareholders' equity	1,453,062	1,397,094
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,232,797	2,188,449
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	$ 211,562	$ 211,562