Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales and other operating revenues	$ 700,680	$ 576,411	$ 1,084,567	$ 934,181
Cost of goods and services sold	616,710	489,448	972,103	805,655
Gross profit	83,970	86,963	112,464	128,526
Selling, general and administrative expenses	34,641	35,982	70,132	72,076
Other income (expense)	(499)	(1,157)	745	(1,347)
Restructuring and asset impairment charges	580	0	2,776	0
Operating income	48,250	49,824	40,301	55,103
Debt retirement expense	55,582	0	55,599	0
Interest expense (includes debt amortization of $2,691 and $2,625 for the three months and $5,201 and $5,217 for the six months in 2013 and 2012, respectively)	31,684	29,776	60,527	56,891
Interest income	1,859	1,121	3,845	2,119
Income (loss) before income taxes and other items	(37,157)	21,169	(71,980)	331
Income tax expense	10,291	3,901	11,159	13,140
Equity in net income of investee companies	1,362	1,045	320	850
Net income (loss)	(46,086)	18,313	(82,819)	(11,959)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(104)	(55)	25	416
Net income (loss) attributable to Alliance One International, Inc.	$ (45,982)	$ 18,368	$ (82,844)	$ (12,375)
Earnings per share:
Basic (usd per share)	$ (0.53)	$ 0.21	$ (0.95)	$ (0.14)
Diluted (usd per share)	$ (0.53)	$ 0.18	$ (0.95)	$ (0.14)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding [Abstract]
Basic (in shares)	87,570	87,367	87,522	87,280
Diluted (in shares)	87,570	110,545	87,522	87,280