Consolidated Statements Of Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues		$ 1,983,357	$ 1,909,979	$ 2,227,153
Costs and expenses
Cost of goods sold		1,597,354	1,553,167	1,820,562
Selling, general and administrative expenses		219,789	222,902	225,118
Other income	[1]	(4,173)	0	0
Restructuring and impairment costs		22,577	7,543	20,304
Operating income		147,810	126,367	161,169
Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	[2]	2,985	4,211	5,299
Other non-operating income (expense)		(440)	986	832
Interest income		325	1,581	1,532
Interest expense		24,954	19,854	17,510
Income before income taxes		125,726	113,291	151,322
Income taxes		29,412	35,288	41,188
Net income		96,314	78,003	110,134
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		(8,904)	(6,323)	(6,013)
Net income attributable to Universal Corporation		$ 87,410	$ 71,680	$ 104,121
Earnings per share:
Basic		$ 3.55	$ 2.87	$ 4.14
Diluted		$ 3.53	$ 2.86	$ 4.11
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic		24,656,009	24,982,259	25,129,192
Diluted		24,788,566	25,106,351	25,330,437

[1] Other income represents the reversal of a portion of the contingent consideration liability associated with the acquisition of FruitSmart. See Note 2 for additional information.

[2] Equity in pretax earnings of unconsolidated affiliates is included in reportable segment operating income, but is reported below consolidated operating income and excluded from that total in the consolidated statements of income.