TOKYO, July 16 (Reuters) - Some Japanese aluminium

buyers have agreed to pay two global producers a premium of $172

per metric ton over the benchmark price for shipments in July to

September, up 16%-19% from the previous quarter, two sources

involved in the pricing talks said.

The figure is higher than the $145-$148 per ton paid in the

April-June quarter and lower than the initial offers of

$175-$190 per ton made by producers.

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

premiums for primary metal shipments it agrees to

pay each quarter over the benchmark London Metal Exchange (LME)

cash price set the benchmark for the region.