Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 411,507	$ 319,447	$ 167,625
Accounts receivable, net	280,978	428,659	267,632
Advances to suppliers, net	93,175	101,890	84,905
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	2,073	2,316	762
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	736,368	637,132	965,917
Other	67,638	60,888	65,123
Prepaid income taxes	11,419	17,814	16,359
Other current assets	61,856	70,400	67,456
Total current assets	1,665,014	1,638,546	1,635,779
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,760	22,987	22,870
Buildings	264,485	264,838	256,970
Machinery and equipment	603,860	591,327	591,292
Total property, plant and equipment	891,105	879,152	871,132
Less: accumulated depreciation	(569,697)	(553,265)	(545,518)
Property, plant and equipment, net	321,408	325,887	325,614
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	98,869	99,071	99,035
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	75,574	82,441	75,351
Deferred income taxes	24,266	23,853	38,750
Other noncurrent assets	41,798	61,379	52,245
Total other assets	240,507	266,744	265,381
Total assets	2,226,929	2,231,177	2,226,774
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	52,052	66,179	65,894
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	131,925	120,527	132,572
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	10,522	8,343	21,768
Customer advances and deposits	14,201	16,438	41,209
Accrued compensation	22,800	27,593	20,681
Income taxes payable	7,239	7,190	5,893
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	238,739	246,270	288,017
Long-term debt	368,645	368,380	368,292
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	78,930	92,177	90,643
Other long-term liabilities	30,038	41,794	33,179
Deferred income taxes	29,075	29,494	27,447
Total liabilities	745,427	778,115	807,578
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 25,270,976 shares issued and outstanding (22,717,448 at December 31, 2015, and 22,717,735 at March 31, 2016)	319,509	208,946	206,941
Retained earnings	1,090,148	1,066,064	1,033,986
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(71,723)	(72,350)	(70,439)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,441,946	1,414,222	1,382,050
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	39,556	38,840	37,146
Total shareholders' equity	1,481,502	1,453,062	1,419,196
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,226,929	2,231,177	2,226,774
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	$ 104,012	$ 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.

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsPayableAndAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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.