Segment Information Analysis of Segment Information (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) country	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	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	$ 389,423	$ 414,853	$ 650,524	$ 681,135
Operating income	18,446	26,283	13,170	23,378
Interest expense	31,904	28,782	62,507	56,555
Interest income	2,204	1,274	4,042	2,648
Loss before income taxes and other items	(11,254)	(1,225)	(45,295)	(30,529)
Segment assets	1,998,724	1,946,120	1,998,724	1,946,120	$ 1,968,198
North America
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	58,823	64,830	108,760	95,130
Operating income	3,659	5,547	2,681	6,418
Segment assets	396,413	400,884	396,413	400,884	338,833
Other Regions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales and other operating revenues	330,600	350,023	541,764	586,005
Operating income	14,787	20,736	10,489	16,960
Segment assets	$ 1,602,311	$ 1,545,236	$ 1,602,311	$ 1,545,236	$ 1,629,365