Producers of natural gas may be struggling with low prices, but for pipeline operators like Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI), the outlook is anything but bearish.

The Houston-based midstreamer, which transports about 40% of the natural gas consumed in the United States, kicked off the first quarter earnings season with stellar results and a positive message for proponents of the fuel.

“Notwithstanding the current low natural gas price environment, the future looks very bright for our Natural Gas Pipelines business segment,” said CEO Kim Dang. “We expect demand for natural gas to grow substantially between now and 2030, led by more than a doubling of demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and a more than 50% increase in exports to Mexico. 

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