NEW YORK — U.S. steel mill product exports jumped to a five-month high in October on gains in heavy structural shapes, hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip, and standard rails.

Exports tallied nearly 1.08 million tonnes in October, up 12.1 percent from 959,621 tonnes in September, according to data from the U.S. Commerce Department’s Import Administration.

Exports of heavy structural shapes jumped 54.3 percent month on month to 102,635 tonnes thanks to increases to Latin America, while exports of hot-dipped galvanized sheet and strip rose 14.8 percent in the same comparison on the back of increases to the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) region.

Exports of standard rail increased to 41,144 tonnes in October from 12,145 tonnes a month earlier due to a sevenfold increase in shipments to Mexico.

Monthly decreases were seen primarily in plate in coils (down 16.1 percent) and cut-to-length plate (off 4.6 percent) due to fewer shipments within North America.