TOKYO, Nov 29 (Reuters) - Global aluminium producers

have offered Japanese buyers premiums of $230-$260 per metric

ton for January-March primary metal shipments, up 31%-49% from

the current quarter, three sources directly involved in

quarterly pricing talks said on Friday.

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 October-December quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to

pay a premium of $175 per ton , up 1.7% from the

prior quarter.