Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 146,578	$ 283,993	$ 411,507
Accounts receivable, net	347,175	439,288	280,978
Advances to suppliers, net	108,952	103,750	93,175
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates	1,799	2,373	2,073
Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value:
Tobacco	796,165	565,943	736,368
Other	69,687	68,087	67,638
Prepaid income taxes	14,459	16,713	11,419
Other current assets	92,959	81,252	61,856
Total current assets	1,577,774	1,561,399	1,665,014
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,885	22,852	22,760
Buildings	269,670	266,802	264,485
Machinery and equipment	621,051	597,213	603,860
Total property, plant and equipment	913,606	886,867	891,105
Less accumulated depreciation	(596,722)	(569,527)	(569,697)
Property, plant and equipment, net	316,884	317,340	321,408
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	98,981	98,888	98,869
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	86,246	78,457	75,574
Deferred income taxes	21,049	25,422	24,266
Other noncurrent assets	49,033	41,899	41,798
Total other assets	255,309	244,666	240,507
Total assets	2,149,967	2,123,405	2,226,929
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	50,804	59,133	52,052
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	138,161	153,515	131,925
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates	16,184	7,231	10,522
Customer advances and deposits	23,939	11,007	14,201
Accrued compensation	19,387	32,007	22,800
Income taxes payable	8,052	5,103	7,239
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	256,527	267,996	238,739
Long-term debt	368,998	368,733	368,645
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	74,577	80,689	78,930
Other long-term liabilities	47,289	31,424	30,038
Deferred income taxes	31,903	47,985	29,075
Total liabilities	779,294	796,827	745,427
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 25,114,349 shares issued and outstanding (25,270,976 at December 31, 2016, and 25,274,506 at March 31, 2017)	321,832	321,207	319,509
Retained earnings	1,058,556	1,034,841	1,090,148
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(55,444)	(69,559)	(71,723)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,324,944	1,286,489	1,441,946
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	45,729	40,089	39,556
Total shareholders' equity	1,370,673	1,326,578	1,481,502
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,149,967	2,123,405	2,226,929
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	$ 0	$ 0	$ 104,012

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.