Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 99,305	$ 197,221	$ 95,405
Accounts receivable, net	400,132	367,482	354,676
Advances to suppliers, net	126,830	121,618	102,795
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates	1,909	584	6,197
Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value:
Tobacco	855,587	640,653	814,287
Other	161,704	145,965	144,333
Prepaid income taxes	23,590	15,029	18,174
Other current assets	76,255	66,806	68,928
Total current assets	1,745,312	1,555,358	1,604,795
Property, plant and equipment
Land	24,752	22,400	22,499
Buildings	296,642	284,430	268,377
Machinery and equipment	662,504	658,826	662,854
Total property, plant and equipment	983,898	965,656	953,730
Less accumulated depreciation	(636,042)	(616,146)	(621,928)
Property, plant and equipment, net	347,856	349,510	331,802
Other assets
Operating lease right-of-use assets	34,139	31,230	34,717
Goodwill, net	214,023	173,051	180,655
Other intangibles, net	95,790	72,304	74,710
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	81,040	84,218	85,610
Deferred income taxes	15,676	12,149	22,281
Pension asset	13,495	11,950	0
Other noncurrent assets	46,197	52,154	54,071
Total other assets	500,360	437,056	452,044
Total assets	2,593,528	2,341,924	2,388,641
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	252,609	101,294	129,603
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	221,374	139,484	156,421
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates	8,788	1,282	7,416
Customer advances and deposits	26,341	8,765	14,498
Accrued compensation	18,803	29,918	22,744
Income taxes payable	10,742	4,516	6,650
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	9,128	7,898	9,014
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	547,785	293,157	346,346
Long-term debt	518,547	518,172	518,047
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	52,624	57,637	66,764
Long-term operating lease liabilities	22,612	19,725	22,709
Other long-term liabilities	49,235	59,814	71,346
Deferred income taxes	43,483	44,994	46,414
Total liabilities	1,234,286	993,499	1,071,626
Shareholders' equity
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, no par value, 500,000 shares authorized, none issued or outstanding	0	0	0
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 24,607,384 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 (24,514,867 at December 31, 2020 and 24,514,867 at March 31, 2021)	330,306	326,673	325,350
Retained earnings	1,090,110	1,087,663	1,067,437
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(104,412)	(107,037)	(122,262)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,316,004	1,307,299	1,270,525
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	43,238	41,126	46,490
Total shareholders' equity	1,359,242	1,348,425	1,317,015
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 2,593,528	$ 2,341,924	$ 2,388,641