Segment Information Analysis of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) country	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	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	$ 261,101	$ 266,282
Operating income (loss)	(5,276)	(2,904)
Interest expense	30,602	27,773
Interest income	1,838	1,374
Loss before income taxes and other items	(34,040)	(29,303)
Segment assets	1,918,698	1,829,018	$ 1,968,198
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	49,938	30,300
Operating income (loss)	(978)	871
Segment assets	316,215	324,118	338,833
Other Regions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	211,163	235,982
Operating income (loss)	(4,298)	(3,775)
Segment assets	$ 1,602,483	$ 1,504,900	$ 1,629,365