Berlin, Muharram 8, 1437, Oct 21, 2015, SPA -- German weapons exports ticked up for the first half of 2015 on an annual basis, but a German politician who has vowed to set controls on the outflow rushed to point out that there have been reductions in areas that had drawn criticism in the past, dpa reported. Economics Ministry data showed Wednesday that Germany exported 3.5 billion euros (3.97 billion dollars) in the first six months of 2015, up from 2.2 billion in 2014. But Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel, who is also economics minister, pointed out that the overall number disguised the fact that a smaller percentage of arms were going to non-EU and non-NATO countries and that the flow of small arms - a market that has drawn special condemnation - is shrinking. The ministry noted that the overall increase is largely attributable to the sale of four tanker jets to Britain, making up 34.8 percent of the half-year total. Of the entire 3.5 billion euros, 1.8 billion, or 51.5 percent, went to EU and NATO nations, up from 36.5 per cent the year before. Turning to small weapons, the ministry noted that Gabriel's push to reduce their sale has yielded fruit, with small arms sales down to 12.4 million for the half year, down from 21.3 million in 2014 and 39.5 million for the same time period in 2013. "We've added sharper regulation for sensitive areas. That way we can fight abuses better in the future," said Matthias Machnig, a state secretary at the ministry. -- SPA 02:02 LOCAL TIME 23:02 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w