Segment Information Analysis of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) country	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of countries, tobacco is purchased in (more than 35) | country			35
Number of countries, tobacco is shipped to | country			90
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 454,535	$ 491,139	$ 1,105,060	$ 1,172,274
Operating income	38,654	38,683	51,823	62,061
Debt retirement expense	2,339	0	2,339	0
Interest expense	35,129	30,356	97,635	86,911
Interest income	1,845	2,744	5,888	5,393
Income (loss) before income taxes and other items	3,031	11,071	(42,263)	(19,457)
Segment assets	2,036,315	1,960,691	2,036,315	1,960,691	$ 1,968,198
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	108,869	148,971	217,629	244,101
Operating income	5,685	8,642	8,366	15,061
Segment assets	465,925	514,524	465,925	514,524	338,833
Other Regions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	345,666	342,168	887,431	928,173
Operating income	32,969	30,041	43,457	47,000
Segment assets	$ 1,570,390	$ 1,446,167	$ 1,570,390	$ 1,446,167	$ 1,629,365