Turkish businesses are targeting $155 billion in exports in 2016, an 8 percent increase on last year, the head of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly said on Wednesday.

Exports in 2015 were $144 billion, Mehmet Buyukeksi, the head of TIM, told a news conference. Turkey's main exports markets are the EU, Iraq, Russia, US, UAE and Iran.

Turkey major exports are: textiles and clothing, automotive, iron and steel, white goods and chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Turkey is also one of the leading shipbuilding nations.

Turkey's exports to the EU are mostly machinery and transport equipment, followed by manufactured goods.  - Reuters