TOKYO, June 18 (Reuters) - Global aluminium producers

have offered Japanese buyers premiums of $185 to $190 per metric

ton for July-September primary metal shipments, up 25% to 31%

from the current quarter, three people directly involved in

quarterly pricing talks said on Tuesday.

Japan is major Asian importer of the light 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 April-June quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to pay a

premium of $145-$148 per ton , up 61% to 64% from

the prior quarter.