Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 294,894	$ 319,447	$ 68,970
Accounts receivable, net	251,805	428,659	303,963
Advances to suppliers, net	47,841	101,890	40,627
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	51,558	2,316	59,370
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	827,936	637,132	999,312
Other	86,472	60,888	85,222
Prepaid income taxes	24,448	17,814	19,779
Other current assets	56,026	70,400	75,122
Total current assets	1,640,980	1,638,546	1,652,365
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,914	22,987	16,583
Buildings	266,107	264,838	252,153
Machinery and equipment	599,897	591,327	585,466
Total property, plant and equipment	888,918	879,152	854,202
Less: accumulated depreciation	(566,686)	(553,265)	(539,749)
Property, plant and equipment, net	322,232	325,887	314,453
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	99,033	99,071	99,049
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	81,441	82,441	79,995
Deferred income taxes	25,720	23,853	46,633
Other noncurrent assets	49,107	61,379	54,179
Total other assets	255,301	266,744	279,856
Total assets	2,218,513	2,231,177	2,246,674
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	71,002	66,179	86,095
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	133,133	120,527	155,824
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	0	8,343	98
Customer advances and deposits	37,334	16,438	67,100
Accrued compensation	18,885	27,593	18,423
Income taxes payable	1,240	7,190	6,126
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	261,594	246,270	333,666
Long-term debt	368,556	368,380	368,203
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	80,005	92,177	93,588
Other long-term liabilities	41,413	41,794	37,472
Deferred income taxes	28,047	29,494	26,034
Total liabilities	779,615	778,115	858,963
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,783,633 shares issued and outstanding (22,680,233 at September 30, 2015, and 22,717,735 at March 31, 2016)	210,569	208,946	207,349
Retained earnings	1,054,004	1,066,064	1,005,353
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(73,579)	(72,350)	(71,657)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,402,556	1,414,222	1,352,607
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	36,342	38,840	35,104
Total shareholders' equity	1,438,898	1,453,062	1,387,711
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,218,513	2,231,177	2,246,674
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	$ 211,562	$ 211,562	$ 211,562

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.