Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 68,970	$ 248,783	$ 29,567
Accounts receivable, net	303,963	434,362	290,162
Advances to suppliers, net	40,627	114,883	70,296
Accounts receivable - unconsolidated affiliates	59,370	1,907	98,707
Inventories - at lower of cost or market:
Tobacco	999,312	636,488	1,164,293
Other	85,222	62,195	100,516
Prepaid income taxes	19,779	17,811	28,138
Deferred income taxes	31,491	36,611	34,560
Other current assets	75,122	81,570	83,754
Total current assets	1,683,856	1,634,610	1,899,993
Property, plant and equipment
Land	16,583	16,790	17,022
Buildings	252,153	238,372	239,568
Machinery and equipment	585,466	576,010	577,064
Total property, plant and equipment	854,202	831,172	833,654
Less: accumulated depreciation	(539,749)	(525,783)	(528,722)
Property, plant and equipment, net	314,453	305,389	304,932
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	99,049	99,146	99,291
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	79,995	76,512	88,841
Deferred income taxes	20,661	6,301	18,861
Other noncurrent assets	55,976	76,515	68,973
Total other assets	255,681	258,474	275,966
Total assets	2,253,990	2,198,473	2,480,891
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	86,095	59,862	359,349
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	155,824	140,112	154,826
Accounts payable - unconsolidated affiliates	98	3,281	1,150
Customer advances and deposits	67,100	30,183	57,723
Accrued compensation	18,423	28,232	20,272
Income taxes payable	5,612	9,243	11,164
Current portion of long-term obligations	0	0	118,750
Total current liabilities	333,152	270,913	723,234
Long-term obligations	370,000	370,000	230,000
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	93,588	97,048	74,975
Other long-term liabilities	37,472	36,790	34,567
Deferred income taxes	32,067	26,628	39,235
Total liabilities	866,279	801,379	1,102,011
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 22,680,233 shares issued and outstanding (23,183,259 at September 30, 2014, and 22,593,266 at March 31, 2015)	207,349	206,002	207,552
Retained earnings	1,005,353	1,020,155	971,391
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(71,657)	(74,994)	(44,001)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,352,607	1,362,725	1,347,965
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	35,104	34,369	30,915
Total shareholders' equity	1,387,711	1,397,094	1,378,880
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,253,990	2,198,473	2,480,891
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	$ 211,562	$ 211,562	$ 213,023