Significant Accounting Policies Computation of Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Net income (loss) attributable to Alliance One International, Inc.	$ 100,812	$ 11,735	$ (21,065)	$ (25,950)	$ 2,411	$ 1,563	$ (8,151)	$ (23,685)	$ 65,532	$ (27,862)	$ (102,533)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)									8,882,000	8,829,000	8,772,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 11.33	$ 1.32	$ (2.37)	$ (2.93)	$ 0.27	$ 0.18	$ (0.92)	$ (2.69)	$ 7.38	$ (3.16)	$ (11.69)
Plus interest expense on 5 ½% convertible notes, net of tax									$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Net income (loss) attributable to Alliance One International, Inc. as adjusted									$ 65,532	$ (27,862)	$ (102,533)
Restricted shares issued and shares applicable to stock options and restricted stock units, net of shares assumed to be purchased from proceeds at average market price (in shares)									1,000	0	0
Assuming conversion of 5 ½% convertible notes (in shares)									0	0	0
Shares applicable to stock warrants (in shares)									0	0	0
Adjusted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in shares)									8,883,000	8,829,000	8,772,000
Diluted Earnings (loss) Per Share (in dollars per share)	$ 11.33	$ 1.32	$ (2.37)	$ (2.93)	$ 0.27	$ 0.18	$ (0.92)	$ (2.69)	$ 7.38	$ (3.16)	$ (11.69)
Common shares, owned by subsidiary (in shares)	785,000				785,000				785,000	785,000
Stock Options [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									471,000	661,000	688,000
Weighted average exercise price, antidilutive shares (in dollars per share)									$ 60.70	$ 60.37	$ 60.45
5.5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2014 [Member] | Convertible Debt [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate					5.50%					5.50%
Initial conversion price (in dollars per share)					$ 50.28					$ 50.28