TOKYO, March 6 (Reuters) - A global aluminium producer

has offered Japanese buyers a premium of $260 per metric ton for

April-June primary metal shipments, up 14% from the current

quarter, two sources directly involved in pricing talks said

this week.

Japan is a major Asian importer of the metal and the

premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each

quarter over the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price

set the benchmark for the region.

For the January-March quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to pay

a premium of $228 per ton , up 30% from the prior

quarter. It marked the highest level in about 10 years.