Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 95,405	$ 107,430	$ 64,734
Accounts receivable, net	354,676	340,711	271,981
Advances to suppliers, net	102,795	133,778	120,079
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates	6,197	11,483	24,748
Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value:
Tobacco	814,287	707,298	937,661
Other	144,333	99,275	84,621
Prepaid income taxes	18,174	12,144	13,619
Other current assets	68,928	67,498	61,450
Total current assets	1,604,795	1,479,617	1,578,893
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,499	21,376	22,510
Buildings	268,377	256,488	255,202
Machinery and equipment	662,854	634,395	609,976
Total property, plant and equipment	953,730	912,259	887,688
Less accumulated depreciation	(621,928)	(597,106)	(592,457)
Property, plant and equipment, net	331,802	315,153	295,231
Other assets
Operating lease right-of-use assets	34,717	39,256	34,230
Goodwill and other intangibles, net	255,365	144,687	98,042
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	85,610	77,543	77,783
Deferred income taxes	22,281	20,954	16,354
Other noncurrent assets	54,071	43,711	50,186
Total other assets	452,044	326,151	276,595
Total assets	2,388,641	2,120,921	2,150,719
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	129,603	78,033	92,592
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	156,421	140,202	130,165
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates	7,416	55	7,494
Customer advances and deposits	14,498	10,242	8,230
Accrued compensation	22,744	23,710	21,761
Income taxes payable	6,650	5,334	1,991
Current portion of operating lease liabilities	9,014	9,823	8,394
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	346,346	267,399	270,627
Long-term debt	518,047	368,764	368,698
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	66,764	70,680	55,305
Long-term operating lease liabilities	22,709	25,893	23,465
Other long-term liabilities	71,346	69,427	51,185
Deferred income taxes	46,414	29,474	28,228
Total liabilities	1,071,626	831,637	797,508
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 24,514,867 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2020 (24,693,557 at December 31, 2019 and 24,421,835 at March 31, 2020)	325,350	321,502	324,388
Retained earnings	1,067,437	1,076,760	1,089,718
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(122,262)	(151,597)	(104,310)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,270,525	1,246,665	1,309,796
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	46,490	42,619	43,415
Total shareholders' equity	1,317,015	1,289,284	1,353,211
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 2,388,641	$ 2,120,921	$ 2,150,719