July 22 (Reuters) - Oilfield services provider Baker

Hughes ( BKR ) surpassed Wall Street expectations for

second-quarter profit on Tuesday, as it benefited from robust

demand for its natural gas equipment and services.

The energy industry is benefiting from an increase in demand

for natural gas, driven primarily by LNG exports and rising

electricity consumption as a result of hotter temperatures, data

centers and AI operations.

Baker Hughes ( BKR ) has been trying to leverage its industrial and

energy technology (IET) portfolio to drive growth and expand its

presence in the natural gas and LNG sectors.

The company provides compressors, turbines, valves and other

modular systems to customers for gas processing.

Revenue from its IET segment rose to $3.29 billion from

$3.13 billion a year earlier.

However, total revenue fell 3% to $6.91 billion from last

year as a slowdown in drilling activity across international

markets and in North America weighed on demand for its oilfield

equipment and technology.

The Houston-based company posted an adjusted profit of 63

cents per share for the three months ended June 30, compared

with analysts' estimates of 56 cents per share, according to

data compiled by LSEG.