Equity Method Investments - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Gross profit	$ 69,620	$ 55,127	$ 60,220	$ 39,712	$ 85,504	$ 74,711	$ 49,204	$ 41,395	$ 224,679	$ 250,814	$ 246,191
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Current assets	1,232,368				1,238,508				1,232,368	1,238,508
Current liabilities	789,066				646,842				789,066	646,842
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales									293,163	332,245	317,183
Gross profit									50,209	52,309	53,161
Net income									16,667	22,855	23,954
Company's dividends received									7,348	7,300	2,826
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Balance Sheet [Abstract]
Current assets	145,207				152,661				145,207	152,661
Property, plant, and equipment and other assets	56,481				53,103				56,481	53,103
Current liabilities	82,377				89,791				82,377	89,791
Long-term obligations and other liabilities	$ 6,296				$ 3,222				$ 6,296	3,222
Adams International Ltd.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	49.00%								49.00%
Basis Difference	$ 0								$ 0
Alliance One Industries India Private Ltd.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	49.00%								49.00%
Basis Difference	$ 0								$ 0
China Brasil Tobacos Exportadora SA
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	49.00%								49.00%
Basis Difference	$ 5,515								$ 5,515
China Brasil Tobacos Exportadora SA | Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales									170,092	191,966	200,609
Gross profit									27,297	32,075	32,989
Net income									13,446	16,502	16,575
Net income attributable to CBT									$ 6,589	$ 8,086	$ 8,122
Criticality LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	40.00%								40.00%
Basis Difference	$ 865								$ 865
Nicotine River, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	40.00%								40.00%
Basis Difference	$ 1,840								$ 1,840
Oryantal Tutun Paketleme
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	50.00%								50.00%
Basis Difference	$ 0								$ 0
Purilum, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	50.00%								50.00%
Basis Difference	$ 0								$ 0
Siam Tobacco Export Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
The Company's Ownership Percentage	49.00%								49.00%
Basis Difference	$ 0								$ 0