About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the Iran war, despite the closure of the waterway. Many of these "dark" transits were likely to evade Western government sanctions and oversight, according to maritime data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence. Vessels with ties to India and Pakistan have also successfully crossed the strait as governments increased negotiations. Most shipping traffic through the Strait has been halted since early March after the war started. However, Iran has managed to export over 16 million barrels of oil since the beginning of March, largely due to Western sanctions and associated risks. China has been the biggest buyer of Iranian oil due to its close relationship with Iran. Oil prices have risen more than 40% to over $100 per barrel since the Iran conflict began.