Kinder Morgan anticipates continued growth in natural gas demand through 2026, primarily driven by LNG feed-gas consumption and increased use in power generation, supported by a multi-year demand expansion forecast.
Generated by Dafinchi AI. Source-grounded AI analysis, not investment advice.
What is Kinder Morgan's outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Based on management’s discussion on Kinder Morgan’s latest earnings call and the accompanying commentary, the company’s outlook implies a constructive 2026 demand backdrop driven mainly by power generation growth and LNG feed-gas demand, with data-center-related gas-fired power cited as a longer-cycle catalyst supporting the broader trend into the late 2020s.
Kinder Morgan (via referenced research/commentary) states that its forecast for overall U.S. gas demand extends through 2031, estimating demand of ~150 Bcf/day in 2031 and ~27% growth from “this year”. 1
While this excerpt doesn’t explicitly print a standalone 2026 Bcf/day figure, it indicates that KMI views the demand trajectory as rising into and beyond 2026, consistent with continued demand growth expectations. 1
Management describes the natural gas demand outlook as being supported primarily by:
They also argue that events since the last call make the outlook “more positive,” citing:
These are the same demand categories KMI highlights when discussing incremental pipeline opportunities and operating performance. 23
In discussing current performance, the company notes that natural gas drove the most significant share of outperformance, benefiting from winter storm burn and extended cold in the Northeast. 4
Although this is a quarterly operating/volume factor (not a forecast), it supports the idea that KMI is positioned to monetize gas-demand strength and that the company expects demand fundamentals to remain favorable into the future. 4
KMI says it is in various stages of development on projects intended to serve:
This is not a “2026-only” quantity, but it is a clear management signal that it sees incremental demand growth that is already being captured through midstream expansions—including LNG feed gas and power generation-related demand streams. 3
Putting the excerpts together, Kinder Morgan’s outlook for natural gas demand entering/including 2026 is positive and strengthening, largely because management frames the demand drivers as LNG feed gas growth and gas-fired power utilization, and they cite additional support from U.S. LNG preference and higher gas-fired generation expectations. 2
Separately, referenced forecasting supports a multi-year upward demand trajectory (with ~27% growth from “this year” to an estimated ~150 Bcf/day by 2031), which implies continuing demand momentum through at least 2026 and beyond. 1
Answer in one sentence: Kinder Morgan’s outlook for natural gas demand in 2026 is for continued growth supported by LNG feed-gas demand and gas-fired power generation, with demand expectations rising on a multi-year basis (forecast ending in 2031 at ~150 Bcf/day and ~27% growth from the current year). 12
Disclaimer: The output generated by dafinchi.ai, a Large Language Model (LLM), may contain inaccuracies or "hallucinations." Users should independently verify the accuracy of any mathematical calculations, numerical data, and associated units, as well as the credibility of any sources cited. The developers and providers of dafinchi.ai cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies or decisions made based on the LLM's output.
Kinder Morgan has revised upward its natural gas demand outlook for 2026, supported by stronger LNG and power-generation markets, extending the forecast through 2031.
Sources used
Research questionHas Kinder Morgan revised its outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan's outlook emphasizes continued growth in natural gas demand driven by LNG feed gas needs and increased power generation, supporting a positive demand trajectory into 2026 and beyond.
Sources used
Research questionWhat is Kinder Morgan's outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan has signaled a strengthened outlook for natural gas demand extending into 2026, driven by increased LNG and gas-fired power generation, as reflected in its Q1 2026 earnings call.
Sources used
Research questionHas Kinder Morgan revised its outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan’s Q1 2026 earnings outline a positive and sustained growth outlook for natural gas demand through 2031, driven by LNG and power generation expansion.
Sources used
Research questionWhat is Kinder Morgan's outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan has revised its 2026 natural gas demand outlook upwards, emphasizing strong industry growth driven by LNG and electric generation sectors.
Sources used
Research questionHas Kinder Morgan revised its outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan maintains a constructive outlook for natural gas demand through 2026, driven primarily by LNG feed gas usage and increased gas-fired electric generation. The company’s pipeline volume trends and project opportunities support a sustained demand increase aligned with its long-term growth projections.
Sources used
Research questionWhat is Kinder Morgan's outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Although Kinder Morgan did not specifically revise its natural gas demand outlook for 2026, the company expressed a more positive overall demand outlook extending through 2031, driven by U.S. LNG demand and gas-fired power growth.
Sources used
Research questionHas Kinder Morgan revised its outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan has expressed a more positive outlook for natural gas demand extending into 2026 and beyond, driven by increased LNG and gas-fired power generation, with an updated forecast extending through 2031.
Sources used
Research questionHas Kinder Morgan revised its outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan's outlook for 2026 indicates sustained growth driven by LNG feed gas and power generation demands, supported by current volume trends and capacity expansions.
Sources used
Research questionWhat is Kinder Morgan's outlook for natural gas demand in 2026?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan's management notes that converting the shadow backlog into FIDs remains uncertain and cannot be precisely scheduled, due to variable customer pace and contracting. Yet they maintain a positive line of sight for sanctioning a meaningful number of projects in the back half of 2026, signaling ongoing backlog replenishment even as exact conversion timing stays fluid.
Sources used
Research questionWhat did management say about Shadow backlog conversion timing?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan's Q2 2026 earnings discussion centers on Haynesville capacity constraints and a margin strategy anchored in keeping more volumes on KMI's assets. Management outlined a $500 million capacity upgrade and ~1 Bcf/d of processing to meet growing demand, aided by hedged, price-insensitive volumes.
Sources used
Research questionWhat did management say about Haynesville capacity and margin strategy?
Answer outline
Kinder Morgan's first-half results exceeded expectations thanks to ongoing Natural Gas throughput gains and SACROC CO2 production growth, with commodity price tailwinds also contributing earlier in the year. Management cautioned that many drivers are not repeatable in the back half, but signaled potential for a higher run-rate in select segments and a more conservative, but improved, full-year outlook.
Sources used
Research questionWhat were the primary on-ground drivers of first-half outperformance, and could that set a new run-rate for certain segments?
Answer outline
Dafinchi