TOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Global aluminium producers

have offered Japanese buyers premiums of $98-$103 per metric ton

for October-December primary metal shipments, down 5-9% from the

current quarter, two sources directly involved in quarterly

pricing talks said on Friday.

Japan is a major Asia 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 July-September quarter, Japanese buyers agreed to

pay a premium of $108 per ton , down 41% from the

prior quarter, reflecting sluggish demand.