TOKYO, Aug 28 (Reuters) - A global aluminium producer

has offered Japanese buyers a premium of $185 per metric ton for

October-December primary metal shipments, up 8% from the current

quarter, two sources directly involved in quarterly pricing

talks said on Wednesday.

Japan is a major Asian importer of the metal and the premium

for primary metal shipments it agrees to pay each quarter over

the London Metal Exchange (LME) cash price sets the

benchmark for the region.

For the July-September quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to

pay a premium of $172 per ton , up 16%-19% from

the prior quarter.