| Commitments and Contingencies | 3 Months Ended |
| Jun. 30, 2014 |
| Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] | ' |
| Commitments and Contingencies | ' |
| 8. Commitments and Contingencies: |
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| We have been identified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), state governmental agencies or other private parties as a potentially responsible party (“PRP”) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) or equivalent state or local laws for clean-up and response costs associated with certain sites at which remediation is required with respect to prior contamination. Because CERCLA or such state statutes authorize joint and several liability, the EPA or state regulatory authorities could seek to recover all clean-up costs from any one of the PRPs at a site despite the involvement of other PRPs. At certain sites, financially responsible PRPs other than AVX also are, or have been, involved in site investigation and clean-up activities. We believe that liability resulting from these sites will be apportioned between AVX and other PRPs. |
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| To resolve our liability at the sites at which we have been named a PRP, we have entered into various administrative orders and consent decrees with federal and state regulatory agencies governing the timing and nature of investigation and remediation. As is customary, the orders and decrees regarding sites where the PRPs are not themselves implementing the chosen remedy contain provisions allowing the EPA to reopen the agreement and seek additional amounts from settling PRPs in the event that certain contingencies occur, such as the discovery of significant new information about site conditions. |
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| On October 10, 2012, the EPA, the United States, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and AVX announced that they had reached a financial settlement with respect to the EPA’s ongoing clean-up of the New Bedford Harbor in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the “harbor”). Under the terms of the settlement, AVX was obligated to pay $366,250, plus interest computed from August 1, 2012, in three installments over a two-year period for use by the EPA and the Commonwealth to complete the clean-up of the harbor. On October 18, 2013, we paid the initial settlement installment of $133,350, plus accrued interest of $3,954. On March 26, 2014, we prepaid a second settlement installment of $110,817, plus accrued interest of $822 on the remaining settlement amount through that date. In accordance with the terms of the settlement, we are obligated to pay $122,083, plus interest, on September 21, 2015. We have the option to prepay any portion of the remaining settlement balance at any time prior to the due date. |
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| We had reserves of approximately $135,336 and $136,799 at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, respectively, related to the various matters discussed above. These reserves are classified in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as $4,353 and $4,816 in accrued expenses at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, respectively, and $130,983 and $131,983 in other non-current liabilities at March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, respectively. The amount recorded for identified contingent liabilities is based on estimates. Amounts recorded are reviewed periodically and adjusted to reflect additional legal and technical information that becomes available. Also, uncertainties about the status of laws, regulations, regulatory actions, technology, and information related to individual sites make it difficult to develop an estimate of the reasonably possible aggregate environmental remediation exposure. Accordingly, these costs could differ from our current estimates. |
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| On November 27, 2007, a suit was filed in South Carolina State Court by individuals as a class action with respect to property adjacent to our Myrtle Beach, South Carolina factory claiming property values have been negatively impacted by alleged migration of certain pollutants from our property. During the quarter ended June 30, 2014, the parties agreed to seek Court modification of the definition of the plaintiff class. In the event such modification is allowed by the Court, the parties have also agreed to jointly recommend to the Court a settlement the action. Any settlement will be subject to Court review and approval. Although the final amount of such settlement, if approved by the Court, depends on the number of participating class members, the maximum amount, if all class members participate, would be $1,200. Based on our estimate of potential outcomes, we accrued $1,000 and $1,200 with respect to this case as of March 31, 2014 and June 30, 2014, respectively. We can give no assurance, however, that this action will be resolved on the terms indicated above. If it is not so resolved, we intend to continue to defend vigorously the claims asserted. |
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| On March 1, 2010, AVX was named as a third party defendant in a case filed in Massachusetts Superior Court captioned DaRosa v. City of New Bedford. This case relates to a former disposal site in the City of New Bedford located at Parker Street. The City asserts that AVX, among others, contributed to that site. We intend to defend vigorously the claims that have been asserted in this lawsuit. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of this case on our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows cannot be determined at this time. |
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| On March 1, 2014, AVX was named as a defendant in a patent infringement case filed in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware captioned Greatbatch, Inc. v AVX Corporation. This case alleges that certain AVX products infringe on one or more of six Greatbatch patents. We intend to defend vigorously the claims that have been asserted in this lawsuit. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of this case on our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows cannot be determined at this time. |
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| AVX has received a demand for approximately $11,000 from the City of New Bedford arising from contamination at the City’s New Bedford Railyard. AVX believes it has meritorious defenses and intends to defend vigorously the demand. In light of the foregoing, we are not able to estimate any amount of loss or range of loss. No accrual for costs has been recorded and the potential impact of this demand on our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows cannot be determined at this time. |
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| We also operate on other sites that may have potential future environmental issues as a result of activities at sites during AVX’s long history of manufacturing operations or prior to the start of operations by AVX. Even though we may have rights of indemnity for such environmental matters at certain sites, regulatory agencies in those jurisdictions may require us to address such issues. Once it becomes probable that we will incur costs in connection with remediation of a site and such costs can be reasonably estimated, we establish reserves or adjust our reserves for our projected share of these costs. |
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| We are involved in disputes, warranty, and legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. While we cannot predict the outcome of these disputes and proceedings, management believes, based upon a review with legal counsel, that none of these proceedings will have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), or cash flows. |
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