Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 283,993	$ 319,447
Accounts receivable, net	439,288	428,659
Advances to suppliers, net	103,750	101,890
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	2,373	2,316
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	565,943	637,132
Other	68,087	60,888
Prepaid income taxes	16,713	17,814
Other current assets	81,252	70,400
Total current assets	1,561,399	1,638,546
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,852	22,987
Buildings	266,802	264,838
Machinery and equipment	597,213	591,327
Total property, plant and equipment	886,867	879,152
Less accumulated depreciation	(569,527)	(553,265)
Property, plant and equipment, net	317,340	325,887
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	98,888	99,071
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	78,457	82,441
Deferred income taxes	25,422	23,853
Other noncurrent assets	41,899	61,379
Total other assets	244,666	266,744
Total assets	2,123,405	2,231,177
Liabilities, Current [Abstract]
Notes payable and overdrafts	59,133	66,179
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	153,515	120,527
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	7,231	8,343
Customer advances and deposits	11,007	16,438
Accrued compensation	32,007	27,593
Income taxes payable	5,103	7,190
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	267,996	246,270
Long-term debt	368,733	368,380
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	80,689	92,177
Other long-term liabilities	31,424	41,794
Deferred income taxes	47,985	29,494
Total liabilities	796,827	778,115
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 25,274,506 shares issued and outstanding (22,717,735 at March 31, 2016)	321,207	208,946
Retained earnings	1,034,841	1,066,064
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(69,559)	(72,350)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,286,489	1,414,222
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	40,089	38,840
Total shareholders' equity	1,326,578	1,453,062
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,123,405	2,231,177
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 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.