At the same time export markets have remained strong in the Philippines and new markets are developing in Libya, Egypt and the Middle East, Vietnam and China. Further growth is predicted in all these markets and Malaysia, with other new markets being investigated in Taiwan. The region has a monsoonal climate with rainfall ranging from 750mm to 1600mm concentrated mostly in the December to March period. The district also has abundant natural permanent water. Because large areas of the coastal plains are under water during the wet season grazing stock must be moved to upland areas for part of the year.
Pastoral operations are generally on a smaller scale than in other districts.
Native pastures include monsoon tall grass and monsoon short grass. Brahman and Brahman-cross cattle are grown in the region, which is also the base for the Northern Territory's buffalo industry. The Victoria River district has a hot semi-arid monsoonal climate characterised by a rainy season of four to five months and a dry season for the rest of the year. Rainfall is highest in the north with an average of 890 to 1,020mm declining rapidly to an average of 400mm in the southern areas. The majority of the cattle are Brahman and Brahman-cross.