Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 41,203	$ 283,993	$ 294,894
Accounts receivable, net	338,700	439,288	251,805
Advances to suppliers, net	66,580	103,750	47,841
Accounts receivable—unconsolidated affiliates	50,533	2,373	51,558
Inventories—at lower of cost or net realizable value:
Tobacco	869,325	565,943	827,936
Other	90,108	68,087	86,472
Prepaid income taxes	21,110	16,713	24,448
Other current assets	94,294	81,252	56,026
Total current assets	1,571,853	1,561,399	1,640,980
Property, plant and equipment
Land	22,822	22,852	22,914
Buildings	268,702	266,802	266,107
Machinery and equipment	612,722	597,213	599,897
Total property, plant and equipment	904,246	886,867	888,918
Less accumulated depreciation	(587,465)	(569,527)	(566,686)
Property, plant and equipment, net	316,781	317,340	322,232
Other assets
Goodwill and other intangibles	99,059	98,888	99,033
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	86,247	78,457	81,441
Deferred income taxes	23,136	25,422	25,720
Other noncurrent assets	42,434	41,899	49,107
Total other assets	250,876	244,666	255,301
Total assets	2,139,510	2,123,405	2,218,513
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Notes payable and overdrafts	98,268	59,133	71,002
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	142,337	153,515	133,133
Accounts payable—unconsolidated affiliates	56	7,231	0
Customer advances and deposits	16,807	11,007	37,334
Accrued compensation	19,509	32,007	18,885
Income taxes payable	3,935	5,103	1,240
Current portion of long-term debt	0	0	0
Total current liabilities	280,912	267,996	261,594
Long-term debt	368,909	368,733	368,556
Pensions and other postretirement benefits	74,636	80,689	80,005
Other long-term liabilities	31,338	31,424	41,413
Deferred income taxes	54,733	47,985	28,047
Total liabilities	810,528	796,827	779,615
Shareholders' equity
Common stock, no par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized 25,114,349 shares issued and outstanding (22,783,633 at September 30, 2016, and 25,274,506 at March 31, 2017)	320,121	321,207	210,569
Retained earnings	1,027,147	1,034,841	1,054,004
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(58,887)	(69,559)	(73,579)
Total Universal Corporation shareholders' equity	1,288,381	1,286,489	1,402,556
Noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	40,601	40,089	36,342
Total shareholders' equity	1,328,982	1,326,578	1,438,898
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	2,139,510	2,123,405	2,218,513
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	0	0	0
Series B 6.75% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]
Shareholders' equity
Preferred Stock	$ 0	$ 0	$ 211,562

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

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- Definition

Amount due from customers or clients, within one year of the balance sheet date (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer), for goods or services (including trade receivables) that have been delivered or sold in the normal course of business, reduced to the estimated net realizable fair value by an allowance established by the entity of the amount it deems uncertain of collection.