Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 234,128	$ 283,993
Accounts receivable, net	377,119	439,288
Advances to suppliers, net	122,786	103,750
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates	2,040	2,373
Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value:
Tobacco	679,428	565,943
Other	69,301	68,087
Prepaid income taxes	16,032	16,713
Other current assets	88,209	81,252
Total current assets	1,589,043	1,561,399
Property, plant and equipment
Land	23,180	22,852
Buildings	271,757	266,802
Machinery and equipment	634,660	597,213
Total property, plant and equipment	929,597	886,867
Less accumulated depreciation	(605,803)	(569,527)
Property, plant and equipment, net	323,794	317,340
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	98,927	98,888
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	89,302	78,457
Deferred income taxes	17,118	25,422
Other noncurrent assets	50,448	41,899
Total other assets	255,795	244,666
Total assets	2,168,632	2,123,405
Current liabilities
Notes payable and overdrafts	45,421	59,133
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	163,763	153,515
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates	16,072	7,231
Customer advances and deposits	7,021	11,007
Accrued compensation	27,886	32,007
Income taxes payable	7,557	5,103
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	267,720	267,996
Long-term debt	369,086	368,733
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	64,843	80,689
Other long-term liabilities	45,955	31,424
Deferred income taxes	35,726	47,985
Total liabilities	783,330	796,827
Shareholders’ equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 24,930,725 shares issued and outstanding (25,274,506 at March 31, 2017)	321,559	321,207
Retained earnings	1,080,934	1,034,841
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(60,064)	(69,559)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,342,429	1,286,489
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	42,873	40,089
Total shareholders' equity	1,385,302	1,326,578
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,168,632	2,123,405
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 0

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.